YOUR SHADOW

By John Freeman

From Swindon out to White Horse Hill

I walked, in morning rain,

And saw your shadow lying there.

As clear and plain

As lies the White Horse on the Hill

I saw your shadow lying there.

Over the wide green downs and bleak,

Unthinking, free I walked,

And saw your shadow fluttering by.

Almost it talked,

Answering what I dared not speak

While thoughts of you ran fluttering by....

So on to Baydon sauntered, teased

With that pure native air.

Sometimes the sweetness of wild thyme

The strings of care

Did pluck; sometimes my soul was eased

With more than sweetness of wild thyme.

Sometimes within a pool I caught

Your face, upturned to mine.

And where sits Chilton by the waters

Your look did shine

Wildly in the mill foam that sought

To hide you in those angry waters.

And yet, O Sweet, you never knew

Those downs, the thymy air

That with your spirit haunted is —

Yes, everywhere!

Ah, but my heart is full of you,

And with your shadow haunted is.