Poetry in Jersey - Adieu to Jersey

Adieu to Jersey

Adieu, thou sweetest and most fertile isle,
Where Flora and Pomona smile,
Each charming Bay, each noble view,
Each much admired spot, Adieu,
Mont Orgueil, Rosel, and Houguebie,
St. Brelade, Grieve de Lecq, Bonne Nuit,
The fort Majestic which does crown
St. Heliers large, and thriving town,
Elizabeth's strong and Venerable pile,
By turns Peninsular and Isle,
Most ably placed to intersect
Fort Regents Fire, and to protect
Thy Pier, thy spacious Port and Strand
From the foes rash attempt to land,
St Aubins town, it's Forts, it's Pier,
Those lofty towers which uprear
Their heads in formidable array
Around this fine and beauteous bay
Whose round and solid bases brave
The fury of the high tides waves,
But at the ebb a mile between
Of fine, firm, level sand is sea,
Here oft the troops of this fine Isle,
Before their Martial Chief defile,
A well armed, and appointed band
Trained to defend their native land,
Here their Artillery at full speed
Fly o'er the ground, advance, recede,
Form on the waters edge, then fire,
And at the trumpets call retire.

Thomas Fyers, written circa 1824

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