Winter Words Op. 52: 3. Wagtail and Baby A Satire by Benjamin Britten Lyrics

A baby watched a ford, whereto
A wagtail came for drinking;
A blaring bull went wading through
The wagtail showed no shrinking
A stallion splashed his way across
The birdie nearly sinking;
He gave his plumes a twitch and toss
And held his own unblinking
Next saw the baby round the spot
A mongrel slowly slinking;
The wagtail gazed, but faltered not
In dip and sip and prinking
A perfect gentleman then neared;
The wagtail, in a winking
With terror rose and disappeared;
The baby fell a-thinking