The Oak and the Hill
The Oak and the Hill
Original Text
Collected Sonnets Old and New (London: C. Kegan Paul & Co., 1880) : 343. PR 5699 T7 Robarts Library
1When the storm fell'd our oak, and thou, fair wold,
2Wast seen beyond it, we were slow to take
3The lesson taught, for our old neighbour's sake.
4We thought thy distant presence wan and cold,
5And gave thee no warm welcome; for, whene'er
6We tried to dream him back into the place,
7Where late he stood, the giant of his race,
8'Twas but to lift an eye, and thou wert there,
9His sad remembrancer, the monument
10That told us he was gone; but thou hast blent
11Thy beauty with our loss so long and well,
12That, in all future griefs, we may foretell
13Some lurking good behind each seeming ill,
14Beyond each fallen tree some fair blue hill.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004
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