Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WAGTAIL AND BABY, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WAGTAIL AND BABY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A baby watched a ford, whereto
Last Line: The baby fell a-thinking.
Subject(s): Babies; Birds; Wagtails; Infants


A BABY watched a ford, whereto
A wagtail came for drinking;
A blaring bull went wading through,
The wagtail showed no shrinking.

A stallion splashed his way across,
The birdie nearly sinking;
He gave his plumes a twitch and toss,
And held his own unblinking.

Next saw the baby round the spot
A mongrel slowly slinking;
The wagtail gazed, but faltered not
In dip and sip and prinking.

A perfect gentleman then neared;
The wagtail, in a winking,
With terror rose and disappeared;
The baby fell a-thinking.





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