Page:Poems (Edward Thomas, 1917).djvu/41

 Young Jack, or old Jack, or Jack What-d'ye-call,

Jack-in-the-hedge, or Robin-run-by-the-wall,

Robin Hood, Ragged Robin, lazy Bob,

One of the lords of No Man's Land, good Lob,—

Although he was seen dying at Waterloo,

Hastings, Agincourt, and Sedgemoor too,—

Lives yet. He never will admit he is dead

Till millers cease to grind men's bones for bread,

Not till our weathercock crows once again

And I remove my house out of the lane

On to the road." With this he disappeared

In hazel and thorn tangled with old-man's-beard.

But one glimpse of his back, as there he stood,

Choosing his way, proved him of old Jack's blood

Young Jack perhaps, and now a Wiltshireman

As he has oft been since his days began.

BRIGHT CLOUDS

clouds of may

Shade half the pond.

Beyond,

All but one bay

Of emerald

Tall reeds

Like criss-cross bayonets

Where a bird once called,

Lies bright as the sun.

No one heeds.

The light wind frets

And drifts the scum

Of may-blossom.

Till the moorhen calls

Again 35