part I
1 There runs a road by Merrow Down - A grassy track today it is - An hour out of Guildford Town, Above the river Wey it is. 2 Here, when they heard the horse-bells ring The ancient Britons dressed and rode, To watch the dark Phoenicians bring Their goods along the Western Road. 3 Yes, here, or hereabouts, they met To hold their racial talks and such - To barter beads for Whitby jet, And tin for gay shell torques and such. 4 But long and long before that time (When bison used to roam on it) Did Taffy and her Daddy climb That Down, and had their home on it. 5 Then beavers built in Broadstonebrook And made a swamp where Bramley stands; And bears from Shere would come and look For Taffimai where Shamley stands. 6 The Wey, that Taffy called Wagai, Was more than six times bigger then; And all the tribe of Tegumai They cut a noble figure then!
part II
1 Of all the Tribe of Tegumai Who cut that figure, none remain, - On Merrow Down the cuckoos cry - The silence and the sun remain. 2 But as the faithful years return And hearts unwounded sing again, Comes Taffy dancing through the fern To lead the Surrey spring again. 3 Her brows are bound with bracken-fronds, And golden elf-locks fly above; Here eyes are bright as diamonds And bluer than the sky above. 4 In mocassins and deer-skin cloak, Unfearing, free, and fair she flits, And lights her little damp-wood smoke To show her Daddy where she flits. 5 For far - oh, very far behind, So far she cannot call to him, Comes Tegumai alone to find The daughter that was all to him!
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