Milne, A.A. 1927. Now we are six. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. New York: E.P. Dutton.
Introduction
"Us Two" is an adventurous poem featuring Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh.
Us Two
Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
Let's go together," says Pooh.
"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.
("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)
"I think it ought to be twenty-two."
"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.
"It wasn't an easy sum to do
But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what it is," said Pooh.
"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few�
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.
"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.
That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!" and off they flew.
"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you."
So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two
Can stick together," says Pooh, says he.
"That's how it is," says Pooh."
Extension
Now We Are Six and When We Were Very Young can easily be read along with Winnie The Pooh and House At Pooh Corner. In addition, there was at one time a record called Winnie The Pooh: 17 Songs from The Pooh Songbook published by Wonderland Golden Records. (The copyright was renewed in 1952.) Jack Gilford was the voice of Pooh. Mary Stanton was the voice of Christopher Robin. Eric Carlson was the voice of Eeyore. The music was written by H. Fraser-Simson. This record is one of the highlights of my childhood. Nothing can be better than to hear the actual hums of Pooh! The songs come from the Pooh books and the two poetry books. If you have access to the record, kids should definitely get the chance to hear these poems sung. I know my sister takes the record to school whenever she reads Pooh out loud to them!