THE FISHERMAN OF NEWNHAM
(To my Father)
When I was a boy at Newnham,
For every tide that ran
Swift on its way to Bollo,
I wished I were a man
To sail out and discover
Where such a tide began.
But when my strength came on me
’Tis I must earn my bread:
My Father set me fishing
By Frampton Hock, instead
Of wandering to the ocean—
Wherever Severn led.
And now I’ve come to manhood,
Too many cares have I
To think of gallivanting
(A wife and child forbye).
So I must wonder ever
Until time comes to die.
Then I shall question Peter
Upon the heavenly floor,
What makes the tide in rivers—
How comes the Severn bore,
And all things he will tell me
I never knew before.
THE LOCK-KEEPER
(To the Memory of Edward Thomas)
A tall lean man he was, proud of his gun,
Of his garden, and small fruit trees every one
Knowing all weather signs, the flight of birds,
Farther than I could hear the falling thirds
Of the first cuckoo. Able at digging, he
Smoked his pipe ever, furiously, contentedly.
Full of old country tales his memory was;
Yarns of both sea and land, full of wise saws
In rough fine speech; sayings his father had,
That worked a twelve-hour day when but a lad.
Handy with timber, nothing came amiss
To his quick skill; and all the mysteries
Of sail-making, net-making, boat-building were his.
That dark face lit with bright bird-eyes, his stride
Manner most friendly courteous, stubborn pride,
I shall not forget, not yet his patience
With me, unapt, though many a far league hence
I’ll travel for many a year, nor ever find
A winter-night companion more to my mind,
Nor one more wise in ways of Severn river,
Though her villages I search for ever and ever.
THE REVELLERS
I saw a silver-bright shield hang
Entangled in the topmost boughs
Of an old elm-tree, and a house
Dreaming; the while a small stream sang
A tune of broken silver by,
And laughed and wondered at the sky.
A thousand thousand silver lamps
Dared the bright moon of stars. O! who,
Wandering that silver quiet through,
Might heed the river-mists, dew-damps?
All Heaven exulted, but Earth lay
Breathless and tranced in peace alway.