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William H Davies

I lived from 1871-1940. I was from Wales.

William Henry Davies was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father was, at the time a Publican. After an apprenticeship as a picture-frame maker and a series of labouring jobs, he travelled to America, first to New York and then to the Klondike.

He returned to England after an accident whilst jumping a train in Canada, where he lost a foot. Upon his return to Britain he led a poor, hard life living in London lodging houses and as a pedlar in the country. He married in 1923, Emma, who was much younger than he. His first poems were published when he was 34.

Most of his poetry is on the subject of nature or life on the road and exhibits a natural simple, earthy style. He also wrote two novels and autobiographical works, his best known being Autobiography of a Super-Tramp

He died in 1940

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  • Leisure
    What is this life if, full of care,
    We have no time to stand and stare.
    14 lines, 5 comments
  • The Dark Hour
    And now, when merry winds do blow,
    And rain makes trees look fresh,
    28 lines, 6 comments
  • Thunderstorms
    My mind has thunderstorms,
    That brood for heavy hours:
    10 lines, 3 comments
  • The Fog
    I saw the fog grow thick,
    Which soon made blind my ken;
    25 lines
  • The Sleepers
    As I walked down the waterside
    This silent morning, wet and dark;
    24 lines
  • Easter
    What exultations in my mind,
    From the love-bite of this Easter wind!
    13 lines
  • A Plain Life
    No idle gold -- since this fine sun, my friend,
    Is no mean miser, but doth freely spend.
    12 lines
  • The Bird of Paradise
    Here comes Kate Summers, who, for gold,
    28 lines
  • Come, Let Us Find
    Come, let us find a cottage, love,
    That's green for half a mile around;
    20 lines, 1 comment
  • Sweet Stay-at-Home
    Sweet Stay-at-Home, sweet Well-content,
    30 lines
1 - 10 of 112  Show all by written, popularity, title, first line

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