The House That Was

Of the old house, only a few, crumbled

Courses of brick, smothered in nettle and dock,

Or a shaped stone lying mossy where it tumbled!

Sprawling bramble and saucy thistle mock

What once was fire-lit floor and private charm,

Whence, seen in a windowed picture, were hills fading

At night, and all was memory-coloured and warm,

And voices talked, secure of the wind's invading.

Of the old garden, only a stray shining

Of daffodil flames among April's Cuckoo-flowers

Or clustered aconite, mixt with weeds entwining!

But, dark and lofty, a royal cedar towers

By homelier thorns; and whether the rain drifts

Or sun scortches, he holds the downs in ken,

The western vales; his branchy tiers he lifts,

Older than many a generation of men.