Walter de la Mare
Overview
 
Walter John de la Mare , OM
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...

 CH
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....

 (25 April 1873 – 22 June 1956) was an English poet, short story writer and novelist, probably best remembered for his works for children and the poem "The Listeners".

He was born in Kent (at 83 Maryon Road, Charlton, now part of the London Borough of Greenwich
London Borough of Greenwich
The London Borough of Greenwich is an Inner London borough in south-east London, England. Taking its name from the historic town of Greenwich, the present borough was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich with part of the Metropolitan...

), descended from a family of French Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...

s, and was educated at St Paul's Cathedral School
St Paul's Cathedral School
St. Paul's Cathedral School is a school associated with St Paul's Cathedral in London and is located in New Change in the City of London.The School has around 220 pupils, most of whom are day pupils, both boys and girls, including up to 40 boy choristers who are all boarders and who singing the...

.

His first book, Songs of Childhood, was published under the name Walter Ramal.
Quotations

A harvest mouse goes scampering by,With silver claws and silver eye;And moveless fish in the water gleam,By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Silver

Here lies a most beautiful lady,Light of step and heart was she;I think she was the most beautiful ladyThat ever was in the West Country.

An Epitaph

But beauty vanishes; beauty passes;However rare—rare it be;And when I crumble, who will rememberThis lady of the West Country?

An Epitaph

Look thy last on all things lovely,Every hour—let no nightSeal thy sense in deathly slumberTill to delightThou hast paid thy utmost blessing.

Fare Well, st. 3 (1918)

‘Who knocks?’ ‘I, who was beautiful,Beyond all dreams to restore,I from the roots of the dark thorn am hither,And knock on the door.’

The Ghost

A face peered. All the grey nightIn chaos of vacancy shone;Nought but vast sorrow was there—The sweet cheat gone.

The Ghost

Do diddle di do,Poor Jim JayGot stuck fastIn Yesterday.

Jim Jay

It's a very odd thing&mdas;As odd as can be—That whatever Miss T. eatsTurns into Miss T.

Miss T.

Three jolly huntsmen,In coats of red,Rode their horsesUp to bed.

The Huntsmen

Bang! Now the animalIs dead and dumb and done.Nevermore to peep again, creep again, leap again,Eat or sleep or drink again, oh, what fun!

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