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Poetry
by David Alexander
Review of the Royal Poultry House
From The Illustrated London News, 1843
In a secluded nook sheltered by stately elm trees stands
the private farm of Her Majesty. She seeks the renovation
of higher powers, which find their best in homely recreations.
The fowl house – designed and built by Messrs Bedborough
and Jenner – is a semi-gothic building. It consists of a centred
pavilion – crowned on the top by an elegant dove-cot – and wings
of symmetric roosting houses and breeding nests. The ground in
front is enclosed and divided by light wire fences into separate wards
for the run of the birds. Commendable regard to the conveniences
of their graminivorous tenants has been displayed. The chambers
spacious, airy, warm. Their nests resemble the dark bramble
recesses of their jungles, comprised of twigs of heather and small
bramblets of hawthorn covered over with white lichen. The feeder
of this family demands a passing notice – their vigilant guardian
protecting them from enemies; their constant friend supplying them
with every necessity; their faithful arbitrator settling their quarrels; and
in due accordance with gallinaceous law, adjudicating their disputes.
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[Distillate © HA&L + David Alexander | {from the Greek bios} -- the course of a life.]
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