Guest poem sent in by Dave Fortin :
(Poem #1297) The Birthright We who were born In country places, Far from cities And shifting faces, We have a birthright No man can sell, And a secret joy No man can tell. For we are kindred To lordly things, The wild duck's flight And the white owl's wings; To pike and salmon, To bull and horse, The curlew's cry And the smell of gorse. Pride of trees, Swiftness of streams, Magic of frost Have shaped our dreams: No baser vision Their spirit fills Who walk by right On the naked hills. |
I grew up in rural Missouri and this evokes happy memories, especially now that I am stuck in a sprawling subruban environment. I like the usage of the short lines and traditional Welsh imagery to bring forth the beauty and joys of rural life. As for the poetess, Eiluned Lewis (1900-1979) was born at Newtown, Montgomeryshire. She became a journalist and was assistant editor of The Sunday Times, 1931-36. Her novel _Dew on the Grass_ (1934) won the Gold Medal of the Book Guild. Dave Fortin
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I am searching for the name of the composer of the music set to the words
by Eiluned Lewis, which begin "We who were born in country places", and my
internet has come up with the layout for this e-mail.
If you can let me have any information about the song, and, if
possible, who was the publisher of it, I shall be very grateful.
Yours sincerely, Philip Wall.
I just borrowed this poem to use on a birthday card.
It has such nice thoughts. The card was made for someone who grew up in
rural Mississippi.
Good to see it out on the web. I was searching for it's publish date.
Philip Wall,
I find you on a google search and wonder if you are Philip Wall, son of Julia and Russel Hughes? I am Kathy Harrigan, daughter of Norma Locander, Julia's neice and hope to make contact with you, if, indeed, you are this man.
Kathy Harrigan
This was our school song at Brockhill County Secondary, Saltwood, Kent, UK.
In the 60's when I was there the grounds were huge and included a lake. Back
then it was farmland and agriculture played a part in our education - I
believe it's now a park given over to public access and farming is no longer
on the curriculum. I suppose that's progress. I'd certainly forgotten most
of the lyrics - thanks for the nostalgia trip!
Regards,
Geoff Lewis
Head of Information Technology
tel:
Hmmm... didn't realise the author has my surname!!
This was the school song of Brockhill County Secondary School, Saltwood,
Hythe, Kent, UK
I attended 1966 - 69. Headmaster at the time was Jack Setterfield, who I
assume choose this as the school song (is Jack's name spelt correctly??).
Anyone got the music score?
The school grounds are now parkland and open to the public and, like this
poem, were beautiful but I haven't been back there in years.
Regards,
Geoff Lewis
Hi Philip,
The music was written by Margaret Sutherland
Country places [music] : we who were born in Country Places : two-part song / words by Eiluned Lewis ; music by Margaret Sutherland
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2250661
no matter where you born, the most important thing is never forget the planet around you, the ambient in that you grow,and the things bind us, all that thing that make us brothers ans sisters.
Nicely sung by the Australian Girls Choir acc by piano on "Over The Top With Macca" LP in 1991. Ian Macnamara has hosted the Australian ABC Sunday morning radio show for many years and produces the odd record of favourite Australian Music. A universal poem.
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Good morning, I like to find information to help me grow as a person, thanks for sharing this valuable information, good job
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, but I am firmly convinced of this and love to learn more about the subject. If possible, acquire knowledge, would you update your blog with more information? It is very helpful to me
My mother told me it was composed by a person in her orchestra, I had it played at her funeral and forgot to collect the sheet music after the service. I still sing it
The evil that men do live with them and after them.
We learned this in Girl Scout camp. I am chuffed to bits to have all the words and the poet's name!
this was our school song at collingham woodhill county secondary school notts in the 50s and 60s. i still sing it now and again
Has anyone anywhere got the sheet music? I only want it for nostalgic reasons andon't want to pay huge copyright and copying fees to the Australian library....
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