StoryTitle("caps", "The Ivy Green") ?>
Ivy Green," by Charles Dickens (1812-70), is a hardy poem in honour of
a hardy plant. There is a wonderful ivy growing at Rhudlan, in northern Wales.
Its roots are so large and strong that they form a comfortable seat for many
persons, and no one can remember when they were smaller. This ivy envelops a
great castle in ruins. Every child in that locality loves the old ivy. It is
typical of the ivy as seen all through Wales and England.
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "O, a dainty plant is the ivy green,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That creepeth o'er ruins old!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of right choice food are his meals, I ween,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In his cell so lone and cold.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The walls must be crumbled, the stones decayed.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To pleasure his dainty whim;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the mouldering dust that years have made", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Is a merry meal for him.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "Creeping where no life is seen,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "A rare old plant is the ivy green.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Fast he stealeth on, though he wears no wings,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And a staunch old heart has he!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "How closely he twineth, how tight he clings", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To his friend, the huge oak tree!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And slyly he traileth along the ground,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And his leaves he gently waves,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And he joyously twines and hugs around", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The rich mould of dead men's graves.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "Creeping where no life is seen,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "A rare old plant is the ivy green.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whole ages have fled, and their works decayed,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And nations have scattered been;", "") ?>
PagePoem(60, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the stout old ivy shall never fade", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From its hale and hearty green.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The brave old plant in its lonely days", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Shall fatten upon the past;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For the stateliest building man can raise", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Is the ivy's food at last.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "Creeping where no life is seen,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L4", "", "A rare old plant is the ivy green.", "") ?>
PoemAttribution("100", SmallCapsText("Charles Dickens.")) ?>
PoemEnd() ?>