Mammoths
Patrick Reginald Chalmers
1872 to 1942
Up and down the high woods, up and down the low,
Must 'a' gone a-hunting morts of years ago;e
When the beaver whistled, when the aurochs ran,
Must 'a' been a-hunting when the world began.
For I half remember (tusk on kingly tusk)
How I've seen the mammoths moving through the dusk:
Mammoths all a-marching, terrible to see,
Through an awful oak-wood glooming ghoulishly.
Shadows huge and hairy, as the day was done,
Somehow I remember, walking one by one,
Bulls grotesque and solemn, pulling boughs in halves;
Running 'neath their mothers, little idiot calves.
Lumping through the oak-swamp, vast and dim and grey,
I have watched the mammoths pass at dusk of day;
Through the quaking hollow, through the tree-trunks stark,
Gleams of mighty ivory breaking up the dark.
That's the way I dream it, that's the way I know,
Must 'a' gone a-hunting, years and years ago:
For I've seen the mammoths — 'tisn't you that could —
Moving like cathedrals through a dreadful wood.
Patrick Reginald Chalmers's Mammoths
We are busy working to bring Patrick Reginald Chalmers's "Mammoths" to life through our unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you soon.
At V2Melody, each arrangement is crafted with care through a thoughtful partnership of human artistry and technological innovation. This process involves:
- Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
- Careful selection of musical styles that enhance the poem's unique voice
- Balancing traditional poetic expression with contemporary sound landscapes
- Multiple revisions to ensure the arrangement honors the poet's original vision
This creative journey takes time—each composition represents hours of dedicated work to create something that deepens our connection to Patrick Reginald Chalmers's words in meaningful ways.
While you wait for our complete interpretation, we invite you to explore other musical arrangements in our gallery or learn more about Patrick Reginald Chalmers's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Mammoths" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.