David Essex ~ Myfanwy ~ Baz

Details

Description

David Essex ~ Myfanwy ~

Kind o'er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy
White o'er the playpen the sheen of her dress
Fresh from the bathroom and soft in the nursery
Soap-scented fingers I long to caress

Were you a prefect and head of your dormitory
Were you a hockey girl, tennis or gym
Who was your favorite Who had a crush on you
Which were the baths where they taught you to swim

Smooth down the avenue glitters the bicycle
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge
Home and Colonial, Star, International
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge

Trace me your wheel tracks, you fortunate bicycle
Out of the shopping and into the dark
Back down the avenue, back to the potting shed
Back to the house on the fringe of the park

Golden the light on the locks of Myfanwy
Golden the light on the book on her knee
Finger-marked pages of Rackham's Hans Anderson
Time for the children to come down to tea

Oh! Fullers angelcake, Robertson's marmalade
Liberty lampshade, come shine on us all
My! What a spread for the friends of Myfanwy
Some in the alcove and some in the hall

Then what sardines in half-lighted passages!
Locking of fingers in long hide-and-seek
You will protect me, my silken Myfanwy
Ringleader, tomboy, and chum to the weak

Writer ~ Betjeman, Read.

Myfanwy was first published in 1875 and composed by Joseph Parry
Sung 100 years ago.