Song.*
by Richard Watson Dixon

The feathers of the willow
Are half of them grown yellow
Above the swelling stream ;
And ragged are the bushes,
And rusty now the rushes,
And wild the clouded gleam.

The thistle now is older,
His stalk begins to moulder
His head is white as snow ;
The branches all are barer,
The linnet’s song is rarer,
The robin pipeth now.

*p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.

Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.

On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> Song.*
> by Richard Watson Dixon
>
> The feathers of the willow
> Are half of them grown yellow
> Above the swelling stream ;
> And ragged are the bushes,
> And rusty now the rushes,
> And wild the clouded gleam.
>
> The thistle now is older,
> His stalk begins to moulder
> His head is white as snow ;
> The branches all are barer,
> The linnet’s song is rarer,
> The robin pipeth now.
>
> *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
>
> Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.

Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.

On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > Song.*
> > by Richard Watson Dixon
> >
> > The feathers of the willow
> > Are half of them grown yellow
> > Above the swelling stream ;
> > And ragged are the bushes,
> > And rusty now the rushes,
> > And wild the clouded gleam.
> >
> > The thistle now is older,
> > His stalk begins to moulder
> > His head is white as snow ;
> > The branches all are barer,
> > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > The robin pipeth now.
> >
> > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> >
> > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
Agreed and seconded.

On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > Song.*
> > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > >
> > > The feathers of the willow
> > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > > And rusty now the rushes,
> > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > >
> > > The thistle now is older,
> > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > The branches all are barer,
> > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > > The robin pipeth now.
> > >
> > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > >
> > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> Agreed and seconded.
NancyGene, you nailed it.

On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > Song.*
> > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > >
> > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > > > And rusty now the rushes,
> > > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > > >
> > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > The branches all are barer,
> > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > > > The robin pipeth now.
> > > >
> > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > >
> > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > Agreed and seconded.
> NancyGene, you nailed it.
Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!

On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:46:35 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > Song.*
> > > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > > >
> > > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > > Are half of them grown yellow

I can accept the off-rhyme of "willow" and "yellow" -- and even overlook the poet's having to resort to an off-rhyme for the poem's opening lines. But "are half of them" is a blatant piece of padding, whereby our "experienced readers" would necessarily place the poem down.

> > > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > > And ragged are the bushes,

Ugh! An off-rhyme stuffed full of padding, followed by an inversion.

This poem has "rank amateur" written all over it.

> > > > > And rusty now the rushes,

I repeat...

> > > > > And wild the clouded gleam.

One can't imagine much of a gleam (even a clouded one) in a stream covered by willow trees, and home to aquatic "bushes" and rushes.

> > > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > > His stalk begins to moulder

This is so bad it's LOL funny.

> > > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > > The branches all are barer,

"More bare" is the correct form for the above sentiment. "Barer" is only used when comparing their bareness to something else.

> > > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,

Ditto regarding "rarer."

> > > > > The robin pipeth now.

Is this poem supposed to be set in Elizabethan times?

One supposes that it's only fitting that a poem which began with an off-rhyme should end with one as well.

And it's hardly what one would call an ending.

In fact, the entire poem is little more than a brief notation on some of the seasonal changes that signify the coming of Fall.

> > > > >
> > > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > > >
> > > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > > Agreed and seconded.
> > NancyGene, you nailed it.
> Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!

Some poems are best left to moulder in their obscurity. This, unfortunately, is one of them.

In fact, this is the sort of hackneyed twaddle that one has become accustomed to finding in Batty's... er, Penny's Pages.

Nevertheless, I am indebted to you for bringing it to light, as it provides many insights into how not to compose poetry.

Michael Pendragon
"I do go in for the childish name-calling."
-- Will Dockery in a rare moment of self-acknowledgement

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:15:19 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:46:35 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > Song.*
> > > > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > > > Are half of them grown yellow
> I can accept the off-rhyme of "willow" and "yellow" -- and even overlook the poet's having to resort to an off-rhyme for the poem's opening lines. But "are half of them" is a blatant piece of padding, whereby our "experienced readers" would necessarily place the poem down.
> > > > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > > > And ragged are the bushes,
> Ugh! An off-rhyme stuffed full of padding, followed by an inversion.
>
> This poem has "rank amateur" written all over it.
> > > > > > And rusty now the rushes,

He likes inversion.

> I repeat...
> > > > > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> One can't imagine much of a gleam (even a clouded one) in a stream covered by willow trees, and home to aquatic "bushes" and rushes.

But "stream" does rhyme with "gleam," so we give him a pass on the lines.

> > > > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > > > His stalk begins to moulder
> This is so bad it's LOL funny.

We wonder why only the thistle is personified. What about the bushes and the rushes?

> > > > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > > > The branches all are barer,
> "More bare" is the correct form for the above sentiment. "Barer" is only used when comparing their bareness to something else.

Maybe he meant "bearer?" The branches are bearers of "something."

> > > > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> Ditto regarding "rarer."
>
> > > > > > The robin pipeth now.
>
> Is this poem supposed to be set in Elizabethan times?
Crack pipe.
>
> One supposes that it's only fitting that a poem which began with an off-rhyme should end with one as well.
Consistency in writing is to be admired.
>
> And it's hardly what one would call an ending.
>
> In fact, the entire poem is little more than a brief notation on some of the seasonal changes that signify the coming of Fall.
Perhaps Mr. Dixon just dashed off the poem in a few minutes and thought it sounded good for the season. Then someone 160 years later needed a poem to fill in his blog day?

> > > > > >
> > > > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > > > Agreed and seconded.
> > > NancyGene, you nailed it.
> > Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!
> Some poems are best left to moulder in their obscurity. This, unfortunately, is one of them.

We didn't comment, other than to note that the "other" posting of the poem had the incorrect spelling of "moulder," as in mouldering in his grave (John Brown's Body).
>
> In fact, this is the sort of hackneyed twaddle that one has become accustomed to finding in Batty's... er, Penny's Pages.
It's posted and "take it or leave it."
>
> Nevertheless, I am indebted to you for bringing it to light, as it provides many insights into how not to compose poetry.
Thank you. We were reading our magazines and books from the 1860s and happened upon this poem.
>
>
> Michael Pendragon
> "I do go in for the childish name-calling."
> -- Will Dockery in a rare moment of self-acknowledgement

On Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 09:22:51 UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:15:19 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:46:35 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > Song.*
> > > > > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > > > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > I can accept the off-rhyme of "willow" and "yellow" -- and even overlook the poet's having to resort to an off-rhyme for the poem's opening lines. But "are half of them" is a blatant piece of padding, whereby our "experienced readers" would necessarily place the poem down.
> > > > > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > > > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > Ugh! An off-rhyme stuffed full of padding, followed by an inversion.
> >
> > This poem has "rank amateur" written all over it.
> > > > > > > And rusty now the rushes,
> He likes inversion.
> > I repeat...
> > > > > > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > One can't imagine much of a gleam (even a clouded one) in a stream covered by willow trees, and home to aquatic "bushes" and rushes.
> But "stream" does rhyme with "gleam," so we give him a pass on the lines.
> > > > > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > > > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > This is so bad it's LOL funny.
> We wonder why only the thistle is personified. What about the bushes and the rushes?
> > > > > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > > > > The branches all are barer,
> > "More bare" is the correct form for the above sentiment. "Barer" is only used when comparing their bareness to something else.
> Maybe he meant "bearer?" The branches are bearers of "something."
> > > > > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > Ditto regarding "rarer."
> >
> > > > > > > The robin pipeth now.
> >
> > Is this poem supposed to be set in Elizabethan times?
> Crack pipe.
> >
> > One supposes that it's only fitting that a poem which began with an off-rhyme should end with one as well.
> Consistency in writing is to be admired.
> >
> > And it's hardly what one would call an ending.
> >
> > In fact, the entire poem is little more than a brief notation on some of the seasonal changes that signify the coming of Fall.
> Perhaps Mr. Dixon just dashed off the poem in a few minutes and thought it sounded good for the season. Then someone 160 years later needed a poem to fill in his blog day?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > > > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > > > > Agreed and seconded.
> > > > NancyGene, you nailed it.
> > > Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!
> > Some poems are best left to moulder in their obscurity. This, unfortunately, is one of them.
> We didn't comment, other than to note that the "other" posting of the poem had the incorrect spelling of "moulder," as in mouldering in his grave (John Brown's Body).
> >
> > In fact, this is the sort of hackneyed twaddle that one has become accustomed to finding in Batty's... er, Penny's Pages.
> It's posted and "take it or leave it."
> >
> > Nevertheless, I am indebted to you for bringing it to light, as it provides many insights into how not to compose poetry.
> Thank you. We were reading our magazines and books from the 1860s and happened upon this poem.
> >
> >
> > Michael Pendragon
> > "I do go in for the childish name-calling."
> > -- Will Dockery in a rare moment of self-acknowledgement

Did you find them when you got back to the office?

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2:40:18 PM UTC, ME wrote:
> On Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 09:22:51 UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:15:19 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:46:35 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > Song.*
> > > > > > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > > > > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > > I can accept the off-rhyme of "willow" and "yellow" -- and even overlook the poet's having to resort to an off-rhyme for the poem's opening lines. But "are half of them" is a blatant piece of padding, whereby our "experienced readers" would necessarily place the poem down.
> > > > > > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > > > > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > > Ugh! An off-rhyme stuffed full of padding, followed by an inversion.
> > >
> > > This poem has "rank amateur" written all over it.
> > > > > > > > And rusty now the rushes,
> > He likes inversion.
> > > I repeat...
> > > > > > > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > > One can't imagine much of a gleam (even a clouded one) in a stream covered by willow trees, and home to aquatic "bushes" and rushes.
> > But "stream" does rhyme with "gleam," so we give him a pass on the lines.
> > > > > > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > > > > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > > This is so bad it's LOL funny.
> > We wonder why only the thistle is personified. What about the bushes and the rushes?
> > > > > > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > > > > > The branches all are barer,
> > > "More bare" is the correct form for the above sentiment. "Barer" is only used when comparing their bareness to something else.
> > Maybe he meant "bearer?" The branches are bearers of "something."
> > > > > > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > > Ditto regarding "rarer."
> > >
> > > > > > > > The robin pipeth now.
> > >
> > > Is this poem supposed to be set in Elizabethan times?
> > Crack pipe.
> > >
> > > One supposes that it's only fitting that a poem which began with an off-rhyme should end with one as well.
> > Consistency in writing is to be admired.
> > >
> > > And it's hardly what one would call an ending.
> > >
> > > In fact, the entire poem is little more than a brief notation on some of the seasonal changes that signify the coming of Fall.
> > Perhaps Mr. Dixon just dashed off the poem in a few minutes and thought it sounded good for the season. Then someone 160 years later needed a poem to fill in his blog day?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > > > > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > > > > > Agreed and seconded.
> > > > > NancyGene, you nailed it.
> > > > Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!
> > > Some poems are best left to moulder in their obscurity. This, unfortunately, is one of them.
> > We didn't comment, other than to note that the "other" posting of the poem had the incorrect spelling of "moulder," as in mouldering in his grave (John Brown's Body).
> > >
> > > In fact, this is the sort of hackneyed twaddle that one has become accustomed to finding in Batty's... er, Penny's Pages.
> > It's posted and "take it or leave it."
> > >
> > > Nevertheless, I am indebted to you for bringing it to light, as it provides many insights into how not to compose poetry.
> > Thank you. We were reading our magazines and books from the 1860s and happened upon this poem.
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael Pendragon
> > > "I do go in for the childish name-calling."
> > > -- Will Dockery in a rare moment of self-acknowledgement

> Did you find them when you got back to the office?
Yes, "as time permitted."

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2:49:09 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2:40:18 PM UTC, ME wrote:
> > On Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 09:22:51 UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:15:19 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:46:35 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:33:31 AM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 8:26:00 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:16:47 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:52:12 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > Song.*
> > > > > > > > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The feathers of the willow
> > > > > > > > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > > > I can accept the off-rhyme of "willow" and "yellow" -- and even overlook the poet's having to resort to an off-rhyme for the poem's opening lines. But "are half of them" is a blatant piece of padding, whereby our "experienced readers" would necessarily place the poem down.
> > > > > > > > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > > > > > > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > > > Ugh! An off-rhyme stuffed full of padding, followed by an inversion..
> > > >
> > > > This poem has "rank amateur" written all over it.
> > > > > > > > > And rusty now the rushes,
> > > He likes inversion.
> > > > I repeat...
> > > > > > > > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > > > One can't imagine much of a gleam (even a clouded one) in a stream covered by willow trees, and home to aquatic "bushes" and rushes.
> > > But "stream" does rhyme with "gleam," so we give him a pass on the lines.
> > > > > > > > > The thistle now is older,
> > > > > > > > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > > > This is so bad it's LOL funny.
> > > We wonder why only the thistle is personified. What about the bushes and the rushes?
> > > > > > > > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > > > > > > > The branches all are barer,
> > > > "More bare" is the correct form for the above sentiment. "Barer" is only used when comparing their bareness to something else.
> > > Maybe he meant "bearer?" The branches are bearers of "something."
> > > > > > > > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > > > Ditto regarding "rarer."
> > > >
> > > > > > > > > The robin pipeth now.
> > > >
> > > > Is this poem supposed to be set in Elizabethan times?
> > > Crack pipe.
> > > >
> > > > One supposes that it's only fitting that a poem which began with an off-rhyme should end with one as well.
> > > Consistency in writing is to be admired.
> > > >
> > > > And it's hardly what one would call an ending.
> > > >
> > > > In fact, the entire poem is little more than a brief notation on some of the seasonal changes that signify the coming of Fall.
> > > Perhaps Mr. Dixon just dashed off the poem in a few minutes and thought it sounded good for the season. Then someone 160 years later needed a poem to fill in his blog day?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > > > > > > > Fine selection, NancyGene. We love how you bring these older poets out from obscurity. Keep up the great work.
> > > > > > > Agreed and seconded.
> > > > > > NancyGene, you nailed it.
> > > > > Only you could have found this obscure poem, NancyGene!
> > > > Some poems are best left to moulder in their obscurity. This, unfortunately, is one of them.
> > > We didn't comment, other than to note that the "other" posting of the poem had the incorrect spelling of "moulder," as in mouldering in his grave (John Brown's Body).
> > > >
> > > > In fact, this is the sort of hackneyed twaddle that one has become accustomed to finding in Batty's... er, Penny's Pages.
> > > It's posted and "take it or leave it."
> > > >
> > > > Nevertheless, I am indebted to you for bringing it to light, as it provides many insights into how not to compose poetry.
> > > Thank you. We were reading our magazines and books from the 1860s and happened upon this poem.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Michael Pendragon
> > > > "I do go in for the childish name-calling."
> > > > -- Will Dockery in a rare moment of self-acknowledgement
>
> > Did you find them when you got back to the office?
> Yes, "as time permitted."
We will check it out soon.

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 4:00:17 PM UTC, NancyGene wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 11:33:47 PM UTC, ME wrote:
> > On Sunday, 15 October 2023 at 13:52:12 UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > Song.*
> > > by Richard Watson Dixon
> > >
> > > The feathers of the willow
> > > Are half of them grown yellow
> > > Above the swelling stream ;
> > > And ragged are the bushes,
> > > And rusty now the rushes,
> > > And wild the clouded gleam.
> > >
> > > The thistle now is older,
> > > His stalk begins to moulder
> > > His head is white as snow ;
> > > The branches all are barer,
> > > The linnet’s song is rarer,
> > > The robin pipeth now.
> > >
> > > *p. 152 in “Historical Odes and Other Poems,” by Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., London -- Smith, Elder and Co., 1864.
> > >
> > > Note that in the second stanza, second line, Mr. Dixon spells the word as "moulder." That should be the authoritative version.
> > It was really excellent on the second read.
> Wait until you get to the dozenth read--it just keeps getting better and better.
Another poem and poet whom we were the first to discover. Mr. Dixon isn't a good poet and the poem isn't very good either, but when we discover an old poem in an old book, we feel that it's our duty to post it.