The first said, “Here’s a right brave soldier That walks the dark unfearingly; Soon he’ll come back on a fine stretcher, And laughing for a nice Blighty.” The second, “Read his face, old comrade, No kind of lucky chance I see; One day he’ll freeze in mud to the marrow, Then look his last on Picardie.” Though bitter the word of these first twain Curses the third spat venomously; “He’ll stay untouched till the war’s last dawning Then live one hour of agony.” Liars the first two were. Behold me At sloping arms by one--two--three; Waiting the time I shall discover Whether the third spake verity. COMMUNION BEAUTY lies so deep On all the fields, Nothing for the eyes But blessing yields. Tall elms, greedy of light, Stand tip-toe. See The last light linger in Their tracery. The guns are dumb, are still All evil noises. The singing heart in peace Softly rejoices, Only unsatisfied With Beauty’s hunger And sacramental thirst-- Nothing of anger. Mist wraiths haunt the path As daylight lessens, The stars grow clearer, and My dead friend’s presence. TIME AND THE SOLDIER HOW slow you move, old Time; Walk a bit faster! Old fool, I’m not your slave.... Beauty’s my master! You hold me for a space.... What are you, Time? A ghost, a thing of thought, An easy rhyme. Some day I shall again, For all your scheming, See Severn valley clouds Like banners streaming. And walk in Cranham lanes, By Maisemore go.... But, fool, decrepit Fool, You are SO SLOW!!! INFLUENCES WHEN woods of home grow dark, I grow dark too. Images of strange power Fill me and thrill me that hour, Sombre of hue. The woods of Dunsinane I walk, and know What storms did shake Macbeth, That brought on Duncan’s death, And his own woe. Strange whispers chill the blood Of evil breath; Such rumours as did stir Witch and foul sorcerer On the lone heath. No power have these on me; I know too well Their weakness to condemn. Spring will exorcise them With one bluebell. AFTER-GLOW [_TO_ F. W. HARVEY] OUT of the smoke and dust of the little room With tea-talk loud and laughter of happy boys, I passed into the dusk. Suddenly the noise Ceased with a shock, left me alone in the gloom, To wonder at the miracle hanging high Tangled in twigs, the silver crescent clear.-- Time passed from mind. Time died; and then we were Once more at home together, you and I.