The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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SPORTS OF THE FIELD. |
 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
SPORTS OF THE FIELD.
When oaks are brown and birches bare,
And not a bird is singing,
The sportsman drives away his care,
The speckled woodcocks springing.
And not a bird is singing,
The sportsman drives away his care,
The speckled woodcocks springing.
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True joy he in the country knows,
His faithful springers ranging
Among the hazel's yellow boughs,
Or holly, never changing.
His faithful springers ranging
Among the hazel's yellow boughs,
Or holly, never changing.
And when the long-bill'd woodcock springs,
Mark!—the sportsman calling,—
The blue smoke curls,—its useless wings
Through the trees are falling.
Mark!—the sportsman calling,—
The blue smoke curls,—its useless wings
Through the trees are falling.
Full many a man at this would sigh,
As sore against religion;
But at a feast just let him try
Roast woodcock, grouse, or widgeon.
As sore against religion;
But at a feast just let him try
Roast woodcock, grouse, or widgeon.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |