Alfred Hayes (poet) facts for kids
Alfred Hayes (1857–1936) was an English poet and translator. He wrote many poems and also translated works from other languages. Hayes is remembered for writing the school song for King Edward's School in Birmingham.
Early Life and Education
Alfred Hayes was born in Wolverhampton in 1857. His father, E. J. Hayes, was the Town Clerk of Birmingham. Alfred went to King Edward's School, Birmingham for his early education. Later, he studied at New College, Oxford.
Career and Contributions
After his studies, Alfred Hayes became involved in important cultural work. In 1906, he served as the Secretary of the Midland Institute in Birmingham. This role showed his dedication to education and the arts.
His Writings
Alfred Hayes wrote several collections of poems. Some of his well-known works include:
- The Cup of Quietness (published in 1911)
- The Last Crusade and Other Poems (published in 1887)
- The March of Man and Other Poems (published in 1891)
- The Vale of Arden and Other Poems (published in 1895)
- Fellowship in Song (published in 1893)
- From Inland Meadows
He also wrote a special Christmas hymn called "Two Thousand Troubled Years." He wrote this hymn around 1896 for a friend. It was later published with music by Sir F. Bridge. The hymn was also included in a collection called Worship Song, with Accompanying Tunes in 1905.
School Song and Pop Culture
One of Alfred Hayes's lasting contributions is the lyrics he wrote for the school song of King Edward's School, Birmingham. Interestingly, parts of this school song were used in a pop song. In 1983, the Birmingham band The Beat used lines from the chorus in their song "Ackee 1-2-3." This shows how his words found a new audience many years later.
