On the South Downs
On the South Downs
Original Text
F. W. Bourdillon, Sursum Corda (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1893): 48-49. NCM 1893 New York Public Library
1 Light falls the rain
3After the burning day;
4 And the bright scene,
5 Blue, gold, and green,
6Is blotted out in gray.
7 Not so will part
8 The glowing heart
9With sunny hours gone by;
10 On cliff and hill
11 There lingers still
12A light that cannot die.
13 Like a gold crown
14 Gorse decks the Down,
15All sapphire lies the sea;
16 And incense sweet
17 Springs as our feet
19 Fade, vision bright!
20 Fall rain, fall night!
21Forget, gray world, thy green!
22 For us, nor thee,
23 Can all days be
24As though this had not been!
Notes
2] laine: arable land at the foot of the Sussex Downs. Back to Line
18] thymy lea: pasture fragrant with the herb thyme. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1893
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2000.
Rhyme