Page:Marlborough and other poems, Sorley, 1919.djvu/52

 When I reach 'Four Miler's' height,

And I look abroad again

On the skies of dirty white

And the drifting veil of rain,

And the bunch of scattered hedge

Dimly swaying on the edge,

And the endless stretch of downs

Clad in green and silver gowns;

There is something in their dress

Of bleak barren ugliness,

That would whisper, "You have read

Of a land of light and glory:

But believe not what is said.

'Tis a kingdom bleak and hoary,

Where the winds and tempests call

And the rain sweeps over all.

Heed not what the preachers say

Of a good land far away.

Here's a better land and kind

And it is not far to find."

Therefore, when we rise and sing

Of a distant land, so fine,

Where the bells for ever ring,

And the suns for ever shine:

Singing loud and singing grand,

Of a happy far-off land,

O! I smile to hear the song,

For I know that they are wrong, 34