Poem of the Week
Every week, on this page, we will show a different poem from a selection of poems chosen by prominent members of the Robert Graves Society.

ALLIE

Allie, call the birds in,

The birds from the sky!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Down they all fly:

First there came

Two white doves,

Then a sparrow from his nest,

Then a clucking bantam hen,

Then a robin red-breast.

Allie, call the beasts in,

The beasts, every one!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

In they all run:

First there came

Two black lambs,

Then a grunting Berkshire sow,

Then a dog without a tail,

Then a red and white cow.

Allie, call the fish up,

The fish from the stream!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Up they all swim:

First there came

Two gold fish,

A minnow and a miller's thumb,

Then a school of little trout,

Then the twisting eels come.

Allie, call the children,

Call them from the green!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Soon they run in:

First there came

Tom and Madge,

Kate and I who'll not forget

How we played by the water's edge

Till the April sun set.

[From Country Sentiment (1920)]

BOOKS

Complete Poems in One Volume

Robert's complete set of poems edited by Beryl Graves and Dunstan Ward and published in 3 volumes over the period 1995-1999  is now available in a single-volume hardcover, paperback or eBook publication from Carcanet and Penguin.