Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
All of the sights of the hill and the plain
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again, in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by.
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles;
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;
And here is the green for stringing the daisies!
Here is a cart runaway in the road
Lumping along with man and load;
And here is a mill, and there is a river:
Each a glimpse and gone forever!
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For Navin on From A Railway Carriage
Hi Navin, I remember reciting this poem when I was going on holiday (in the olden days of steam trains) as the rhythm of the verse very cleverly mimics the rhythm of the train. Nice to know the Golden Oldies are still doing their bit! Mary Ann Love. -
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for navin
So pleased we were of service
Von - Oldpoetry Team
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From guest Jess (contact)
When was this written???
MOD MESSAGE
As you asked so nicely . . .
This poem appeared in A Child's Garden of Verses published 1885 (AKA Penny Whistles) so was written sometime before that. Without access to the manuscript more precise dates are un;ikely.
Jim
Oldpoetry Research Team -
Faster than fairies...
From guest Lecmor (contact)
I learnt this poem many, many years ago and quite forgot it until a few years ago when I thought of teaching my daughter songs and poems from my childhood. Unfortunately I could only remember the first line and a few other words. I am so happy that I have finally found the whole poem! Now, does anyone know a poem/song with words that go something like this?..."Little lambkin, wooly lambkin with your fleece soft and.../Come and welcome lady springtime... If you do, please send it to me. I am going mad trying to remember the words. While I am asking, here is another that I need words to: "I know not what comes o'er me that thus my spirit fails, Strange visions arise befor me, I think of an ancient tale... (I am not even sure if these words are correct) -
From a Railway Carriage
From guest Brian Davis (contact)
I too remember being taught this wonderful poem at my school (West Mark near Petersfield in Hampshire) in the early 50's. I remember the teaching staff at this small boarding school with great affection, in particular two very fine people, Ruby Andrews (known as Drew) and Julian Foster. I believe Drew went on to Singapore to teach and eventually met and married a Lieutenant Strannock of the Royal Navy. Julian, I believe, went on to train as a craft teacher at a teacher training college somewhere near Cock Fosters in North London although, sadly, I lost touch with them both during my late teens around 1958/59. -
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Wish it was still like this
So reminiscent of my childhood holidays, you can almost feel the sway of the train & hear it clickerty-clacking along the track
Expat -
the poem,,,
From guest Paxia K. (contact)
The poem was a great poem that can calm me down easily,,, and also I chose this poem than anyother poem because it was something that reminded me of the past..;. -
Railway carriage
From guest Margaret Mahan (contact)
Wonderful to find it. Travelling by train recently in UK brought it back to my mind. I was only able to remember the first two lines, but now I have it all again. And yes, we had to recite it fast with a train rythmn as another reader said. -
A Fantastic Poem
From guest Hema (contact)
i used to love it since my school days ( 1970) and now travelling is become very painful as i very often suffer from sciatica and cramps in my legs...but even then, when the travelling gets painful this is the pain relieving drug for me...i still know it by heart....i really love the poem ...so beautifully woven...the sound..the joy of travel....Thank u R L Stevenson -
From guest Paula (contact)
beautiful, very much a poem I remember of my childhood. Means much now as it did then..... -
One of my favorites too! I learned it at school and can still recite it with a racketty raliway rythmn.
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Blessed Be It Took 40 Years To Find
From guest Bluegalpin (contact)
Many Years ago I had to learn a poem, I found The Railway Carriage in a very old Enclyopedia. I used to love it and learnt it well. Over the years , I could only ever remember the first three lines, it has haunted me over the years and I longed to teach my children, it was not to be. This Blessed Day I have found it, after searching for so very long in so many different ways, I feel numb with delight. Thank You for this sight and the hard work you must have put into it for me to find this Wonderful Poem that I can now share with my five grandchildren. I shall sow the words on cloth with silk to celebrate and hope you feel proud to have put my mind at rest for it was over 40 years ago I stood up in class and said the words with the rythem of a railway carrage traveling like a train. With All My Heart I Thank You XXX Luv & Peace to you... -
I always thought this was brilliant. The rythmn actually sounds like a train chugging along. An old favourite with many I believe..
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from a railway carriage
From guest Frank Nattriss (contact)
,I remember this poem fom my school days approx.1957 Its good to read it again.It conjured up in the minds eye all that could be seen through the carriage window.We had to recite it as fast as possible to equal the speed of the train,Brilliant. -
Bloomin marvellous
This has been an all time favourite of mine and thanks to Ankita I now know the title. The whole of the poem is brilliantly held together by the rhythm of the train as it takes the reader on a wonderfull journey.... -
Gorgeous
I think its a brill poem and I am using it for my english project -
11/10
What an amazing poem i love the wat it flows llike a railway carriage
R.I.P Alliyah.
Cozzy Babd boy 4 life
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