The Irish Poet and the Natural World: An Anthology of Verse in English from the Tudors to the Romantics

James Henderson (fl.1777–1784)

308 JAMES HENDERSON (fl.1777–1784) From 1777 onwards, the ‘Original Poetry’ section of Walker’s Hibernian Magazine contained numerous poems from the pen of ‘J.H. of Hillsborough’, Co. Down. O’Donoghue states that they were the work of a James Henderson but gives no indication where he found this information. Henderson’s poems suggest that he spent his childhood wandering the hills above Belfast, but he also knew the Lagan valley and the river Bann well. This poem, like many others published in Irish monthly magazines at the time, expresses contempt for the ‘sportsmen’ who shoot wild birds in Ireland. The Woodcock Look where Kilwarlin rises on the sight,1 A verdant country, pregnant with delight! Whence purest streams in mazy currents flow, To bless and beautify the vales below; Where birds delighted, whilst the smiling spring Scatters her sweets, and through the summer, sing; Where bearded plenty yellow autumn yields; And, when wild winter desolates the fields, Where still the neighbourhood with sports is gay Whilst hounds and horns awake the dawning day, 10 Horses and horsemen croud the echoing hills, And spreading clamour every valley fills. There, by cool fountain, shaded from the storm, A Woodcock sported, of the fairest form; From Lapland never did a fairer fly,2 Or back to Lapland cleave the liquid sky, Though some suppose that birds of passage go Hence to the moon, thence come to us below. Certain it is, by night the woodcocks love To leave the rilly copses,3 and to rove 20 Beneath the starry lustre, and to feed Over the yellow heath, and moonlight mead. The escarpment of the Kilwarlin plateau in County Down overlooks the Lagan valley. 1 The woodcock, a large wading bird with short legs and a very long straight tapering bill, 2 spends the winter in Ireland, but migrates to Lapland and Russia for the summer. i.e. copses beside small rills or streams. 3 309 James Henderson This woodcock, then, what time the night is near And evening echoes gratify the ear, Soon as the stars begin, of largest size, To shew their fires, and sparkle from the skies, Was wont, attentive to the grateful gleam, To leave the murmurs of the shaded stream; Forth from the woods on whirling wings to fly, Dart from the view, and tumble down the sky; 30 Then in the stubble was she wont to play, And watch the passing moon till break of day, By break of day spring from the sportful plain, And boldly sink into the woods again. This saw a youth, who daily with his dog Pursues the game, and beats the bushy bog; A youth of spirit, who can ride and run, Follows the hounds, and famous with the gun! No youth so well as he an aim could take, Bring down the pheasant bursting from the brake, 40 Arrest the mallard in his furtive flight, Or send the sudden snipe to shades of night. Kilwardin was his chosen walk, where he Would slay his thousands in destructive glee; With every rising, every setting sun, The woods resounded with his deathful gun. How would he force the thicket, pass the flood, Marking his way with feathers and with blood! To range the mountains and to beat the bogs, Was all his happiness, and all his dog’s. 50 One evening, weary, as he took his way, Returning from the slaughter of the day, He saw the woodcock from the covert spring, Dart from his view, and wanton on the wing; Nor could he reach her, though in truth he tried: Then, disappointed, in revenge he cried, ’Ere twice twelve hours shall run their rapid round, My shot shall seize thee, and my fire confound, 310 Devoted bird of passage! Thou shalt fall Before my glorious gun, which conquers all.’ 60 Soon as the shades of the succeeding night Began to fall, and make a dubious light; When stars of the first magnitude appear, And distant noises sweetly soothe the ear; Though, for our youth, we rather should remark, When oxen bellow, and when mastiffs bark: Then, and so soon, our hero took his way, True to the signal of declining day; His piece4 in order, no piece could be more: His bag behind him, and his dog before; 70 With hasty steps thus did he pass along, To blast the bird, the subject of our song. Stir...