The Miller of the Dee
Charles Mackay
1814 to 1889
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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Beside the river Dee;
There dwelt a miller, hale and bold,
O miller of the Dee!"
With voice so loud and free,
"I love my wife, I love my friend,
"I envy nobody—no, not I—
Such men as thou art England's boast,
The miller smiled and doffed his cap,
"As wrong as wrong can be;
That turns the mill that grinds the corn
I love my children three;
Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,
And tell me now, what makes thee sing,
Beside the river Dee?"
"I earn my bread," quoth he;
I owe no penny I cannot pay,
While I am sad, though I'm a king,
I'd gladly change with thee.
That feeds my babes and me."
And nobody envies me!"
And this the burden of his song
But say no more, if thou'dst be true
For could my heart be light as thine,
"Farewell, and happy be;
That no one envies thee;
He worked and sang from morn till night—
Thy mill my kingdom's fee;
No lark more blithe than he;
"Good friend," said Hal, and sighed the while,
I thank the river Dee
"Thou'rt wrong, my friend," said good King Hal,
Forever used to be: