O strain your thoughts as if they were
Gold bands between us； eye
All neighbour scenes as so much blankness
Till I again am by！
〃A troubled soughing in the breeze
And the sky overhead
Let yourself feel； and shadeful trees；
Ripe corn； and apples red；
Read as things barren and distasteful
While we are separated！
〃When I come back uncloak your gloom；
And let in lovely day；
Then the long dark as of the tomb
Can well be thrust away
With sweet things I shall have to practise；
And you will have to say！〃
Begun 1871： finished …
AT MIDDLE…FIELD GATE IN FEBRUARY
The bars are thick with drops that show
As they gather themselves from the fog
Like silver buttons ranged in a row；
And as evenly spaced as if measured； although
They fall at the feeblest jog。
They load the leafless hedge hard by；
And the blades of last year's grass；
While the fallow ploughland turned up nigh
In raw rolls； clammy and clogging lie …
Too clogging for feet to pass。
How dry it was on a far…back day
When straws hung the hedge and around；
When amid the sheaves in amorous play
In curtained bonnets and light array
Bloomed a bevy now underground！
BOCKHAMPTON LANE。
THE YOUTH WHO CARRIED A LIGHT
I saw him pass as the new day dawned；
Murmuring some musical phrase；
Horses were drinking and floundering in the pond；
And the tired stars thinned their gaze；
Yet these were not the spectacles at all that he conned；
But an inner one； giving out rays。
Such was the thing in his eye； walking there；
The very and visible thing；
A close light； displacing the gray of the morning air；
And the tokens that the dark was taking wing；
And was it not the radiance of a purpose rare
That might ripe to its accomplishing？
What became of that light？ I wonder still its fate！
Was it quenched ere its full apogee？
Did it struggle frail and frailer to a beam emaciate？
Did it thrive till matured in verity？
Or did it travel on； to be a new young dreamer's freight；
And thence on infinitely？
1915。
THE HEAD ABOVE THE FOG
Something do I see
Above the fog that sheets the mead；
A figure like to life indeed；
Moving along with spectre…speed；
Seen by none but me。
O the vision keen！ …
Tripping along to me for love
As in the flesh it used to move；
Only its hat and plume above
The evening fog…fleece seen。
In the day…fall wan；
When nighted birds break off their song；
Mere ghostly head it skims along；
Just as it did when warm and strong；
Body seeming gone。
Such it is I see
Above the fog that sheets the mead …
Yea； that which once could breathe and plead！ …
Skimming along with spectre…speed
To a last tryst with me。
OVERLOOKING THE RIVER STOUR
The swallows flew in the curves of an eight
Above the river…gleam
In the wet June's last beam：
Like little crossbows animate
The swallows flew in the curves of an eight
Above the river…gleam。
Planing up shavings of crystal spray
A moor…hen darted out
From the bank thereabout；
And through the stream…shine ripped his way；
Planing up shavings of crystal spray
A moor…hen darted out。
Closed were the kingcups； and the mead
Dripped in monotonous green；
Though the day's morning sheen
Had shown it golden and honeybee'd；
Closed were the kingcups； and the mead
Dripped in monotonous green。
And never I turned my head； alack；
While these things met my gaze
Through the pane's drop…drenched glaze；
To see the more behind my back 。 。 。
O never I turned； but let； alack；
These less things hold my gaze！
THE MUSICAL BOX
Lifelong to be
Seemed the fair colour of the time；
That there was standing shadowed near
A spirit who sang to the gentle chime
Of the self…struck notes； I did not hear；
I did not see。
Thus did it sing
To the mindless lyre that played indoors
As she came to listen for me without：
〃O value what the nonce outpours …
This best of lifethat shines about
Your welcoming！〃
I had slowed along
After the torrid hours were done；
Though still the posts and walls and road
Flung back their sense of the hot…faced sun；
And had walked by Stourside Mill； where broad
Stream…lilies throng。
And I descried
The dusky house that stood apart；
And her； white…muslined； waiting there
In the porch with high…expectant heart；
While still the thin mechanic air
Went on inside。
At whiles would flit
Swart bats； whose wings； be…webbed and tanned；
Whirred like the wheels of ancient clocks：
She laughed a hailing as she scanned
Me in the gloom； the tuneful box
Intoning it。
Lifelong to be
I thought it。 That there watched hard by
A spirit who sang to the indoor tune；
〃O make the most of what is nigh！〃
I did not hear in my dull soul…swoon …
I did not see。
ON STURMINSTER FOOT…BRIDGE
（ONOMATOPOEIC）
Reticulations creep upon the slack stream's face
When the wind skims irritably past；
The current clucks smartly into each hollow place
That years of flood have scrabbled in the pier's sodden base；
The floating…lily leaves rot fast。
On a roof stand the swallows ranged in wistful waiting rows；
Till they arrow off and drop like stones
Among the eyot…withies at whose foot the river flows；
And beneath the roof is she who in the dark world shows
As a lattice…gleam when midnight moans。
ROYAL SPONSORS
〃The king and the queen will stand to the child；
'Twill be handed down in song；
And it's no more than their deserving；
With my lord so faithful at Court so long；
And so staunch and strong。
〃O never before was known such a thing！
'Twill be a grand time for all；
And the beef will be a whole…roast bullock；
And the servants will have a feast in the hall；
And the ladies a ball。
〃While from Jordan's stream by a traveller；
In a flagon of silver wrought；
And by caravan； stage…coach； wain； and waggon
A precious trickle has been brought；
Clear as when caught。〃
The morning came。 To the park of the peer
The royal couple bore；
And the font was filled with the Jordan water；
And the household awaited their guests before
The carpeted door。
But when they went to the silk…lined cot
The child was found to have died。
〃What's now to be done？ We can disappoint not
The king and queen！〃 the family cried
With eyes spread wide。
〃Even now they approach the chestnut…drive！
The service must be read。〃
〃Well； since we can't christen the child alive；
By God we shall have to christen him dead！〃
The marquis said。
Thus； breath…forsaken； a corpse was taken
To the private chapelyea …
And the king knew not； nor the queen； God wot；
That they answered for one returned to clay
At the font that day。
OLD FURNITURE
I know not how it may be with others
Who sit amid relics of householdry
That date from the days of their mothers' mothers；
But well I know how it is with me
Continually。
I see the hands of the generations
That owned each shiny familiar thing
In play on its knobs and indentations；
And with its ancient fashioning
Still dallying：
Hands behind hands； growing paler and paler；
As in a mirror a candle…flame
Shows images of itself； each frailer
As it recedes； though the eye may frame
Its shape the same。
On the clock's dull dial a foggy finger；
Moving to set the minutes right
With tentative touches that lift and linger
In the wont of a moth on a summer night；
Creeps to my sight。
On this old viol； too； fingers are dancing …
As whilomjust over the strings by the nut；
The tip of a bow receding； advancing
In airy quivers； as if it would cut
The plaintive gut。
And I see a face by that box for tinder；
Glowing forth in fits from the dark；
And fading again； as the linten cinder
Kindles to red at the flinty spark；
Or goes out stark。
Well； well。 It is best to be up and doing；
The world has no use for one to…day
Who eyes things thusno aim pursuing！
He should not continue in this stay；
But sink away。
A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS
I saw itpink and whiterevealed
Upon the white and green；
The white and green was a daisied field；
The pink and white Ethleen。
And as I looked it seemed in kind
That difference they had none；
The two fair bodiments combined
As varied miens of one。
A sense that； in some mouldering year；
As one they both would lie；
Made me move quickly on to her
To pass the pale thought by。
She laughed and said： 〃Out there； to me；
You looked so weather…browned；
And brown in clothes； you seemed to be
Made of the dusty ground！〃
THE LAST PERFORMANCE
〃I am playing my oldest tunes；〃 declared she；
〃All the old tunes I know； …
Those I learnt ever so long ago。〃
… Why she should think just then she'd play them
Silence cloaks like snow。
When I returned from the town at nightfall
Notes continued to pour
As when I had left two hours before：
It's the very last time；〃 she said in closing；
〃From now I play no more。〃
A few morns onward found her fading；
And； as her life outflew；
I thought of her playing her tunes right through；
And I felt she had known of what was coming；
And wondered how she knew。
1912。
〃YOU ON THE TOWER〃
I
〃You on the tower of my factory …
What do you see up there？
Do you see Enjoyment with wide wings
Advancing to reach me here？〃
… 〃Yea； I see Enjoyment with wide wings
Advancing to reach you here。〃
II
〃Good。 Soon I'll come and ask you
To tell me again thereon 。 。 。
Well； what is he doing now？ Hoi； there！〃
〃He still is flying on。〃
〃Ah； waiting till I have full…finished。
Good。 Tell me again anon 。 。 。
III
Hoi； Watchman！ I'm here。 When comes he？
Between my sweats I am chill。〃
〃Oh； you there； working still？
Why； surely he reached you a time back；
And took you miles from your mill？
He duly came in his winging；
And now he has passed out of view。
How can it be that you missed him？
He brushed you by as he flew。〃
THE INTERLOPER