As I sit here on Xmas day, my thoughts begin to roam
To all my friends around the world, a long way from my home
And I think of my friend Tenna, one of my best friends yet
And remember all those years ago when she found me on the
‘net’.
She was the Denmark kayak champ, and was looking for a friend
To practice her English with, so emails she could send
To the Maatsuyker club she wrote, but not finding any joy
Our club was mainly adults, no little girl or boy.
“Sorry Tenna,” I replied, “and
it’s probably not your plan
But if you wish, you could write, to a grumpy man.”
“That might be fun,” she sent back, and it began
that way
A most unlikely friendship that continues to this day.
A delightful girl of thirteen years, and I was fifty nine
I never really thought that it would have lasted all this time
But she never misses, our emails could fill a book
And life in Denmark I can see, as through her eyes I look.
She has her own webpage, and so does Sampson, her big dog
A great big fluffy crossbred thing, who wouldn't hurt a frog
She sends me lots of photos, when on holidays she goes
And her house and family, and her room as well she shows.
Tenna has a lot of hobbies, and at a tender age
Made up her mind she wants to be an actress on the stage
As extras in a movie she and Mette can proudly claim
And the Royal Danish Theatre is one place where she’ll train
Tenna’s been a witch, a queen, and many other things
Spending time upon the stage and waiting in the wings
With lots of grit and confidence, surely she’ll go far
And maybe the day will come, when we see a new film star
Sometimes with her mother Inge, she polishes some stones
They have a houseful of them, and no doubt Carlo groans
But I have a cross of ‘moler’, hanging on a string
And treasure this little handmade gift among my special things.
The names Tenna puts before me, like Jylland and Blå
vand
Has me reaching for my map of her far away homeland
And I look forward to her emails ‘bout daily life at school
And next year at the Gymnasium where she won’t have time to
fool.
I hear about her Grandma, living near the sea
I hear about the airgun and the ants she didn't see
I hear about ancient heroes, men like Holger Dane
Who may yet save the country when he wakes and fights again.
So though Xmas day will see me, sitting here alone
My eyes will look at photos, my thoughts the world will roam
To all my friends in those far lands, ranging near and far
And my thoughts will go to Silkeborg, and my special friend Tenna.