In the strange city of life
Two houses I know well:
One wherein Silence a garden hath,
And one where Dark doth dwell.
Roof unto roof they stand,
Shadowing the dizzied street,
Where Vanity flaunts her gilded booths
In the noontide glare and heat.
Green-graped upon their walls
The ancient, hoary vine
Hath clustered their carven lichenous stones
With tendril serpentine.
And ever and anon,
Dazed in that clamorous throng,
I thirst for the soundless fount that stills
Those orchards mute of song.
Knock, knock! nor knock in vain.
Heart, all thy secrets tell
Where Silence a fast-sealed garden hath
Where Dark doth dwell.
HERE ENDS THE SUNKEN GARDEN AND
Other Poems by Walter De La Mare the Typography
and Binding arranged by Cyril William Beaumont
Printed on his Press in London and Published
by him at 75 Charing Cross Road in the
City of Westminster Completed
on the first day of December
MDCCCCXVII
[Illustration]
The Binding has been
executed by F. Sangorski and G. Sutcliffe