OF GREATHAM

For peace, than knowledge more desirable

Into your Sussex quietness I came,

When summer’ s green and gold and azure fell

Over the world in flame.

And peace upon your pasture-lands I found,

Where grazing flocks drift on continually,

As little clouds that travel with no sound

Across a windless sky.

Out of your oaks the birds call to their mates

That brood among the pines, where hidden deep

From curious eyes a world’ s adventure waits

In columned choirs of sleep.

Under the calm ascension of the night

We heard the mellow lapsing and return

Of night-owls purring in their groundling flight

Through lanes of darkling fern.

Unbroken peace when all the stars were drawn

Back to their lairs of light, and ranked along

From shire to shire the downs out of the dawn

Were risen in golden song.

I sing of peace who have known the large unrest

Of men bewildered in their travelling,

And I have known the bridal earth unblest

By the brigades of spring.

I have known that loss. And now the broken thought

Of nations marketing in death I know,

The very winds to threnodies are wrought

That on your downlands blow.

I sing of peace. Was it but yesterday

I came among your roses and your corn?

Then momently amid this wrath I pray

For yesterday reborn.