John Drinkwater

Of Greatham

For peace, than knowledge more desireable,
        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 groundless 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.
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