Page:Marlborough and other poems, Sorley, 1919.djvu/43

 The plain that seemed to stretch away to God,

The brook that saw and heard and knew no fear,

Were now the self-same soul as he who stood

And waited for his brother to draw near.

For God had wrestled with him, and was gone.

He looked around, and only God remained.

The dawn, the desert, he and God were one.

—And Esau came to meet him, travel-stained.

III

So, there, when sunset made the downs look new

And earth gave up her colours to the sky,

And far away the little city grew

Half into sight, new-visioned was my eye.

I, who have lived, and trod her lovely earth,

Raced with her winds and listened to her birds,

Have cared but little for their worldly worth

Nor sought to put my passion into words.

But now it's different; and I have no rest

Because my hand must search, dissect and spell

The beauty that is better not expressed,

The thing that all can feel, but none can tell.

1 March 1914 25