IX

Be staid; be careful; and be not too free.

Temptation to enjoy your liberty

May rise against you, break into a crime,

And smash the habit of employing Time.

It serves no purpose that the careful clock

Mark the appointment, the officious train

Hurry to keep it, if the minutes mock

Loud in your ear: 'Late. Late. Late. Late again.'

Week-end is very well on Saturday:

On Monday it's a different affair--

A little episode, a trivial stay

In some oblivious spot somehow, somewhere.

On Sunday night we hardly laugh or speak:

Week-end begins to merge itself in Week.

X

Pack up the house, and close the creaking door.

The fields are dull this morning in the rain.

It's difficult to leave that homely floor.

Wave a light hand; we will return again.

(What was that bird?) Good-bye, ecstatic tree,

Floating, bursting, and breathing on the air.

The lonely farm is wondering that we

Can leave. How every window seems to stare!

That bag is heavy. Share it for a bit.

You like that gentle swashing of the ground

As we tread?...

It is over. Now we sit

Reading the morning paper in the sound

Of the debilitating heavy train.

London again, again. London again.

Georgian Poetry 1916-1917 · 第 79 / 140 题