THE KESTREL

In a great western wind we climbed the hill

And saw the clouds run up, ride high and sink;

And there were shadows running at our feet

Till it seemed the very earth could not be still,

Nor could our hearts be still, nor could we think

Our hearts could ever be still, our thought less fleet

Than the dizzy clouds, less than the flying wind.

Eastward the valley and the dark steep hill

And other hills and valleys lost behind

In mist and light. The hedges were not yet bare

Though the wind picked at them as he went by.

The woods were fire, a fire that dense or clear

Burned steady, but could not burn up the shadows

Rooted where the trees’ roots entangled lie,

In darkness; or a flame burned solitary

In the middle of the highest of brown meadows,

Burned solitary and unconsuming where

A red tree stooped to its black shadow and

The kestrel's shadow hunted the kestrel up the hill.

We climbed, and as we stood ( where yet we stand

And of the visioned sun and shadow still drink )

Happiness like a shadow chased our thought

That tossed on free wings up and down the world;

Till by that wild swift-darting shadow caught

Our free spirits their free pinions furled.

Then as the kestrel began once more the heavens to climb

A new-winged spirit rose clear above the hills of time.