the first English language poet was Caedmon

I will stick my neck out here, fully expecting to have it chopped off at the collar, as I have no idea of who was Caedmon, nor whenor what he wrote. However, the name sounds typically British and a bit dark-age-ish. There is considerable debate among historians (well- there was, I haven't heard it recently) as to when the inhabitants of this cess-pitted isle became "English", but no-one dates it b4 1066, and I'm fairly sure no-one really believes it was as late as the 13th century, so it sounds to me (says he, ducking nervously) as though Caedmon was writing before "English" was a real thing.

The Cuckoo Song is, indeed, a classic which brings back fond memories of the school music-room, where we used to sing that lovely song.