The Kingfisher
The Kingfisher
Original Text
The Complete Poems of W. H. Davies, intro. by Osbert Sitwell (London: Jonathan Cape, 1963): 107. PR 6007 A8A17
1It was the Rainbow gave thee birth,
2 And left thee all her lovely hues;
3And, as her mother's name was Tears,
5For haunts the lonely pools, and keep
6In company with trees that weep.
7Go you and, with such glorious hues,
8 Live with proud Peacocks in green parks;
9On lawns as smooth as shining glass,
10 Let every feather show its marks;
11Get thee on boughs and clap thy wings
12Before the windows of proud kings.
13Nay, lovely Bird, thou art not vain;
14 Thou hast no proud, ambitious mind;
15I also love a quiet place
16 That's green, away from all mankind;
17A lonely pool, and let a tree
18Sigh with her bosom over me.
Notes
4] Starting, it seems, in Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's 1939 edition of the poem in The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1918, the line was changed from "thy blood" to "my blood." The current edition has restored the earlier version of this line. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2011
Rhyme
Form