Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 45: Riding

by William Allingham

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle


His Lordship's Steed

Of a noble breed

Is trotting it fleetly, fleetly,

Her Ladyship's pony,

Sleek and bonny,

Cantering neatly, neatly.



How shall they pass

The Turf-Cadger's Ass,

Creels and all, creels and all?

Man on him bumping,

Shouting and thumping,

Heels and all, heels and all!



Lane is not wide,

A hedge on each side,

The Ass is beginning to bray;

"Now," says my Lord,

With an angry word,

"Fellow, get out of the way!"



"Ha!" says the Cadger,

As bold as a badger,

"This way is my way too!"

Says the Lady mild,

And sweetly smiled,

"My Friend, that's perfectly true."



The Cadger look'd round,

Then jump'd to the ground,

And into the hedge pull'd Neddy.

"O thank you!" says she,

"Ax pardon!" says he,

And touch'd his old hat to the Lady.



His Lordship's Steed

Of a noble breed

Went trotting it fleetly, fleetly,

Her Ladyship's pony,

Sleek and bonny

Cantering neatly, neatly.



The Cadger he rode

As well as he could,

Heels and all, heels and all,

Jolting and bumping,

Shouting and thumping,

Creels and all, creels and all.

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 45: Riding

by William Allingham

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

A lady and lord riding horseback encounter a poor man riding a donkey. The lord angrily orders the poor man out of their way, and the man refuses. The lady treats the poor man kindly, and he moves off to the side and tips his hat politely.

Vocabulary

Steed: A horse being ridden or available for riding.
Noble: Of imposing or magnificent size or appearance.
Breed: Animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.
Fleet: Fast and nimble in movement.
Bonny: Attractive; beautiful.
Canter: A three-beat gait of a horse between a trot and a gallop.
Turf: Grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots.
Cadger: Beggar.
Lane: A narrow road.
Badger: A heavily built omnivorous nocturnal mammal of the weasel family, typically having a gray and black coat.
Ax: Slang for 'ask.'
Creel: A wicker basket for carrying fish.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

  • Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Companion Picture

  • Study the picture below and describe it in your own words.

Find the following in the companion picture:

  • Black Horse
  • Brown Horse
  • Top Hat
  • Feather
  • Stirrup
  • Tail
  • Hooves
  • Manes
  • Bridles
  • Side Saddle

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

  • After reading or listening to each verse of the poem, narrate the verse events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 48 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'Riding.'
1 / 4

Question 2

What happens in the poem?
2 / 4

Answer 2

A lady and lord riding horseback encounter a poor man riding a donkey. The lord angrily orders the poor man out of their way, and the man refuses. The lady treats the poor man kindly, and he moves off to the side.
2 / 4

Question 3

Who are the characters in the poem?
3 / 4

Answer 3

A lady, a lord, and a cadger.
3 / 4

Question 4

Does the poem teach us anything?
4 / 4

Answer 4

Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
4 / 4

  1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'Riding.'
  2. What happens in the poem? A lady and lord riding horseback encounter a poor man riding a donkey. The lord angrily orders the poor man out of their way, and the man refuses. The lady treats the poor man kindly, and he moves off to the side.
  3. Who are the characters in the poem? A lady, a lord, and a cadger.
  4. Does the poem teach us anything? Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.