A SONG OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE
(Dedicated to the Gloucestershire Society)
North, South, East, and West:
Think of whichever you love the best.
Forest and vale and high blue hill:
You may have whichever you will,
And quaff one cup to the love o’ your soul
Before we drink to the lovely whole.
Here are high hills with towns all stone,
(Did you come from the Cotswolds then?)
And an architecture all their own,
And a breed of sturdy men.
But here’s a forest old and stern,
(Say, do you know the Wye?)
Where sunlight dapples green miles of fern,
A river wandering by.
Here’s peaceful meadow-land and kine,
(Do you see a fair grey tower?)
Where sweet together close entwine
Grass, clover, and daisy flower.
Here stretches the land toward the sea
(Behold the castle bold!)
Where men live out life merrily,
And die merry and old.
North, South, East, and West:
Think of whichever you love the best.
Forest and vale and high blue hill:
You shall have whichever you will,
To quaff one cup to the love o’ your soul
Before we drink to the lovely whole.