With other children games he did not play br When they played football he would steal away br To take short walk or rest in shade of tree br He felt happy in his own company. br br He did not have sporting hero as a god br And other children called him 'John the odd' br And other put down names like idiot and fool br But he ignored their taunts and kept his cool. br br He loved Nature and Nature was his friend br And his leisure hours out with Nature he spend br And 'twas Nature first taught him to be a poet br And to her children his first rhymes he wrote. br br He wrote of Nature's creatures living free br The birds of song who live on bush and tree br The animals that live on land and sea br He loved Nature and her huge family. br br From their schooldays men recall John the odd br They say he went to join his Nature God br One morning he left home for far away br And none know of his whereabouts today. br br With other boys he did not play football br And those who went to school with him recall br That with Nature he spent his leisure time br And 'twas Mother Nature who taught him how to rhyme.