Стихи и эссе

     As I walked out one evening,
     Walking down Bristol Street,
     The crowds upon the pavement
     Were fields of harvest wheat.

     And down by the brimming river

     I heard a lover sing
     Under an arch of the railway:
     "Love has no ending.

     "I'll love you, dear, I'll love you

     Till China and Africa meet,
     And the river jumps over the mountain
     And the salmon sing in the street,

     "I'll love you till the ocean

     Is folded and hung up to dry
     And the seven stars go squawking
     Like geese about the sky.

     "The years shall run like rabbits,

     For in my arms I hold
     The Flower of the Ages,
     And the first love of the world."

     But all the clocks in the city

     Began to whirr and chime:
     "O let not Time deceive you,
     You cannot conquer Time.

     "In the burrows of the Nightmare

     Where Justice naked is,
     Time watches from the shadow
     And coughs when you would kiss.

     "In headaches and in worry

     Vaguely life leaks away,
     And Time will have his fancy
     To-morrow or to-day.

     "Into many a green valley

     Drifts the appalling snow;
     Time breaks the threaded dances
     And the diver's brilliant bow.

     "O plunge your hands in water,

     Plunge them in up to the wrist;
     Stare, stare in the basin
     And wonder what you've missed.

     "The glacier knocks in the cupboard,

     The desert sighs in the bed,
     And the crack in the tea-cup opens
     A lane to the land of the dead.

     "Where the beggars raffle the banknotes

     And the Giant is enchanting to Jack,
     And the Lily-white Boy is a Roarer,
     And Jill goes down on her back.

     "O look, look in the mirror,

     O look in your distress;
     Life remains a blessing
     Although you cannot bless.

     "O stand, stand at the window

     As the tears scald and start;
     You shall love your crooked nelghbour
     With your crooked heart."

     It was late, late in the evening,

     The lovers they were gone;
     The clocks had ceased their chiming,
     And the deep river ran on.

1937

Fish in the Unruffled Lakes

     Fish in the unruffled lakes
     Their swarming colours wear,
     Swans in the winter air
     A white perfection have,
     And the great lion walks
     Through his innocent grove;
     Lion, fish and swan
     Act, and are gone
     Upon Time's toppling wave.

     We, till shadowed days are done,

     We must weep and sing
     Duty's conscious wrong,
     The Devil in the clock,
     The goodness carefully worn
     For atonement or for luck;
     We must lose our loves,
     On each beast and bird that moves
     Turn an envious look.

     Sighs for folly done and said

     Twist our narrow days,
     But I must bless, I must praise
     That you, my swan, who have
     All gifts that to the swan
     Impulsive Nature gave,
     The majesty and pride,
     Last night should add
     Your voluntary love.

1936

Autumn Song