| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| The Sea Fowler |
| | | Mary Howitt (1799–1888) |
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| THE BARON hath the landward park, the fisher hath the sea; | |
| But the rocky haunts of the sea-fowl belong alone to me. | |
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| The baron hunts the running deer, the fisher nets the brine; | |
| But every bird that builds a nest on ocean-cliffs is mine. | |
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| Come on then, Jock and Alick, let’s to the sea-rocks bold: | 5 |
| I was train’d to take the sea-fowl ere I was five years old. | |
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| The wild sea roars, and lashes the granite crags below, | |
| And round the misty islets the loud, strong tempests blow. | |
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| And let them blow! Roar wind and wave, they shall not me dismay; | |
| I ’ve faced the eagle in her nest and snatch’d her young away. | 10 |
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| The eagle shall not build her nest, proud bird although she be, | |
| Nor yet the strong-wing’d cormorant, without the leave of me. | |
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| The eider-duck has laid her eggs, the tern doth hatch her young, | |
| And the merry gull screams o’er her brood; but all to me belong. | |
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| Away, then, in the daylight, and back again ere eve; | 15 |
| The eagle could not rear her young, unless I gave her leave. | |
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| The baron hath the landward park, the fisher hath the sea; | |
| But the rocky haunts of the sea-fowl belong alone to me. | |
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