Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DAWLISH FAIR, by JOHN KEATS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DAWLISH FAIR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the hill and over the dale
Last Line: And make the wild fern for a bed do.


(FROM LETTER TO JAMES RICE, MARCH 24, 1818)

OVER the hill and over the dale,
And over the bourn to Dawlish--
Where Gingerbread Wives have a scanty sale
And gingerbre[a]d nuts are smallish.

Rantipole Betty she ran down a hill
And ki[c]ked up her pettic[o]ats fairly
Says I I'll be Jack if you will be Gill.
So she sat on the Grass debonnairly.

Here's somebody coming, here's somebody coming!
Says I 'tis the Wind at a parley
So without any fuss any hawing and humming
She lay on the grass debonnai[r]ly.

Here's somebody here and here's somebody there!
Says I hold your tongue you young Gipsey.
So she held her tongue and lay plump and fair
And dead as a venus tipsy.

O who wouldn't hie to Dawlish fair
O who wouldn't stop in a Meadow
O [who] would not rumple the daisies there
And make the wild fern for a bed do.





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