It's good to know there is continuing interest in the poetry of Cicely Fox Smith, and a spirited discussion of how one adapts her poems for singing. At this point over 100 of her poems have been so adapted and recorded, which I believe is considerably more than from any other poet, and that leaves about 600 more poems for other singers to consider; the 2nd Edition of The Complete Poetry of Cicely Fox Smith, scheduled for release next spring, will be even more complete, since we've been able to harvest another 60 or so poems from what we were able to print in the 1st Edition.

My own thoughts about how other people have adapted CFS's poems and my own perspective is summarized in my CFS Songbook:

"There are various ways that different performers have adapted these poems for singing. Some strictly adhere to the original text. Others take great liberties and cut entire verses while adding new wording and even choruses. I believe that the adaptation process is a delicate compromise of maintaining as much of the original poem as possible while trying to fashion it into something that can be sung well to a general audience. I find that some poems are readily sung as composed while others require major surgery. You are the ultimate judge with regard to how successful any musical rendition of a poem is."

Several people have kindly pointed out that I always include the original poem on my website, so people can see what changes I have made. Here's a link to my website lyrics page: http://www.charlieipcar.com/lyr_list.htm

I note for the record that I have also adapted poems for singing by Hamish Maclaren, John Masefield, Rudyard Kipling, Bill Adams, Burt Franklin Jenness, Edwin J. Brady, Harry Kemp, William McFee, Robert Lewis Stevenson and Angus Cameron Robertson.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar, formerly known as "Charley Noble"