Oxford poetry, 1920

OXFORD POETRY 1920


EDITED BY V. M. B., C. H. B. K., A. P. OXFORD BASIL BLACKWELL 1920

The following authors wish to make acknowledgment to the editors of the publications mentioned for permission kindly given to reprint: Mr. E. Blunden, The Nation (“Forefathers”), Voices (“Sheet Lightning”); Miss V. M. Brittain, The Oxford Chronicle (“Boar’s Hill,” and “The Lament of the Demobilized”); Mr. R. Campbell, The Oxford and Cambridge Miscellany (“Bongwi’s Theology”); Mr. L. Golding, Voices (“The Moon-Clock,” “Cold Branch,” “I Seek a Wild Star”); Mr. A. Porter, Voices (“Life and Luxury,” “A Far Country”); Mr. E. Rickword, The London Mercury (“Intimacy”); Mr. W. Force Stead, The Poetry Review ; Mr. L. A. G. Strong, Coterie (“A Devon Rhyme,” “Christopher Marlye”), The Oxford Chronicle (“From the Greek”).


WHEN on the green the rag-tag game had stopt, And red the lights through alehouse curtains glowed, The clambering brake drove out and took the road. Then on the stern moors all the babble dropt Among those merry men, who felt the dew Sweet to the soul and saw the southern blue Thronged with heat lightning leagues and leagues abroad, Working and whickering; snake-like; winged and clawed; Or like old carp lazily rising and shouldering, Long the slate cloud flank shook with the death-white smouldering; Yet not a voice.
The night drooped oven-hot; Then where the turnpike pierced the black wood plot, Tongues wagged again and each man felt the grim Destiny of the hour speaking through him: And then tales came of dwarfs on Starling Hill, And those young swimmers drowned at the roller mill, Where on the drowsiest noon the undertow Famishing for life boiled like a pot below: And how two higglers at the “Walnut Tree” Had curst the Lord in thunderstorm and He Had struck them into soot with lightning then— It left the pitchers whole, it killed the men. Many a lad and many a lass was named Who once stept bold and proud—but death had tamed Their revel on the eve of May: cut short The primrosing and promise of good sport, Shut up the score book, laid the ribbands by.