GALSWORTHY, John


Devon to me

Where my fathers stood

Watching the sea,

Gale-spent herring boats

Hugging the lea;

There my Mother lives,

Moorland and tree.

Sight o' the blossom!

Devon to me!

Where my fathers walked,

Driving the plough;

Whistled their hearts out -

Who whistles now?

There my Mother burns

Fire faggots free.

Scent o' the wood-smoke!

Devon to me!

Where my fathers sat,

Passing their bowls;

- They've no cider now,

God rest their souls!

There my Mother feeds

Red cattle three.

Taste o' the cream-pan!

Devon to me!

Where my fathers sleep,

Turning to dust,

This old body throw

When die I must!

There my Mother calls,

Wakeful is She!

Sound o' the west-wind!

Devon to me!

Where my fathers lie,

When I am gone,

Who need pity me

Dead? Never one!

There my Mother clasps

Me. Let me be!

Feel o' the red earth!

Devon to me!


Life?

Life? What is Life?

The leaping up of level wave;

The flaring of an ashy fire;

The living wind in airless grave!

Death? What is Death?

The dying of immortal sun;

The sleeping of the sleepless moon;

The end of story not begun!


Past

The clocks are chiming in my heart

Their cobweb chime;

Old murmurings of days that die,

The sob of things a drifting by.

The clocks are chiming in my heart!

The stars have twinkled, and gone out--

Fair candles blown!

The hot desires burn low, and wan

Those ashy fires, that flamed anon.

The stars have twinkled, and gone out.