Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren't go a-hunting, For fear of little men.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The poem describes a rural landscape and a superstition about small creatures preventing hunting.
- In plain terms
- We do not hunt in the mountains because we fear little men.
- What can you take from it?
- Folklore and fear can dictate human behavior in nature.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What stories shape your behavior?
- How does nature make you feel?
Another view
The quote references 'little men' without explaining who they are or their significance.
More from William Allingham
Winds and waters keep A hush more dead than any sleep.
Permalink to quote #2 Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.
Permalink to quote #3 Autumn's the mellow time.
Permalink to quote #4
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