Old Poetry Poetry • Poets • Essays • Forums •

Book: Lancashire Hunting Songs

One of Cicely Fox Smith's earliest poetry collections [1909]
It contains many poems on the theme of hunts and hunting (foxes, hares, otters etc and was published at a time when such things were not considered in the same way as they are today.
Neverless, despite the themes and the relative youth of the author, there are some fine poems which add to our understanding of this complex character who is more widly known for her excellent maritime poetry.

It was, as far as I am aware, only published in two editions. The image is taken from the first edition.

Jim Saville

1 - 15 of 15
  • Hunting The Hare
    Hark for'ard, hark for'ard, hark for'ard, to hills where October
    Lingers awhile in his vesture resplendent yet sober,
    23 lines
  • The Hunting Of The Witch
    I rose up one bright winter's morning:
    My heart was as heavy as lead;
    25 lines
  • Otter Hunting In Ribblesdale
    Through yon little planting, by yonder streamside,
    Where Ribble's sweet waters flow softly and wide,
    23 lines
  • For'ard On!
    Now the last meet is over, the last hunt is done,
    And the last farewell spoken at set of the sun,
    26 lines
  • Hollinshead Hall
    Silent the ruined house, slowly rotting and falling;
    Empty the great barns, dumb and lifeless and blind;
    35 lines
  • Little Waxy
    Wake, little Waxy! Hunting-time again,
    The short days and goodly, the clean Autumn rain:
    18 lines
  • A Lancashire Hare
    O brown are the moors in the grey morning lying
    Where the west wind comes singing o'er wide sea and plain;
    26 lines
  • Parting: The Eve Of The Puppy Show
    Yo were but a little un, Crowner my lad,
    When th' huntsman he said yo'd be t' spit o' yo'r dad,
    18 lines, 1 comment
  • Mist
    Between the grey hill and the sky
    The chill west wind goes wandering by
    22 lines
  • A North Country Hound (Old Style)
    Now hark, all good hunters, I'll sing you the praise
    Of a brave hound and goodly, that's worth
    23 lines, 3 comments
  • Royal Music
    Sweet in the leafy woods the round
    Of singing birds in June;
    43 lines
  • At The Dawning Of The Day
    By Ribble's gleaming river
    The morning mists are grey,
    35 lines
  • A Stave At Parting
    Good-night! the horn's faint music
    Through the twilight fades away:
    17 lines
  • From The North
    I wish't I was in Lancashire huntin' o' the hare
    All across the wide moorlands an' the hollows brown an' bare,
    13 lines
  • The Clough Among The Hills
    I know a clough where nightly
    My spirit goes in dream,
    34 lines
1 - 15 of 15

Add a comment

    : Comment:

1 - 15 of 15