Nature

Old Martinmas Eve

by Ivor Gurney 1890–1937

From War's Embers, and Other Verses (1919)

NatureTime & Brevity

The moon, one tree, one star,
Still meadows far,
Enwreathed and scarfed by phantom lines of white.
November’s night
Of all her nights, I thought, and turned to see
Again that moon and star-supporting tree.
If some most quiet tune had spoken then;
Some silver thread of sound; a core within
That sea-deep silentness, I had not known
Ever such joy in peace, but sound was none--
Nor should be till birds roused to find the dawn.

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A still November night with one tree, one star and the moon, so silent that the speaker wishes for 'some silver thread of sound'.

MLA

Gurney, Ivor. “Old Martinmas Eve.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gurney/18/.

Chicago

Gurney, Ivor. “Old Martinmas Eve.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gurney/18/.

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