Poem by David Herbert Lawrence

Study

Somewhere the long mellow note of the blackbird
Quickens the unclasping hands of hazel,  
Somewhere the wind-flowers fling their heads back,
Stirred by an impetuous wind. Some ways’ll  
All be sweet with white and blue violet.
(Hush now, hush. Where am I?—Biuret—)
 
On the green wood’s edge a shy girl hovers  
From out of the hazel-screen on to the grass,  
Where wheeling and screaming the petulant plovers
Wave frighted. Who comes? A labourer, alas!
Oh the sunset swims in her eyes’ swift pool.  
(Work, work, you fool——!)
 
Somewhere the lamp hanging low from the ceiling
Lights the soft hair of a girl as she reads,  
And the red firelight steadily wheeling
Weaves the hard hands of my friend in sleep.  
And the white dog snuffs the warmth, appealing
For the man to heed lest the girl shall weep.  
(Tears and dreams for them; for me  
   Bitter science—the exams are near.
   I wish I bore it more patiently.  
   I wish you did not wait, my dear,  
   For me to come: since work I must:  
   Though it’s all the same when we are dead.—
   I wish I was only a bust,
       All head.)

1. The Punisher
2. The Hands of the Betrothed
3. Troth with the Dead
4. Bei Hennef
5. Elegy

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