Nature
Turmut-Hoeing
From War's Embers, and Other Verses (1919)
I straightened my back from turmut-hoeing
And saw, with suddenly opened eyes,
Tall trees, a meadow ripe for mowing,
And azure June’s cloud-circled skies.
Below, the earth was beautiful
Of touch and colour, fair each weed,
But Heaven’s high beauty held me still,
Only of music had I need.
And the white-clad girl at the old farm,
Who smiled and looked across at me,
Dumb was held by that strong charm
Of cloud-ships sailing a foamless sea.
Codex Note
The speaker straightens his back from hoeing turnips and suddenly sees tall trees, a meadow ripe for mowing and June clouds. 'Only of music had I need.'
Cite this poem
MLA
Gurney, Ivor. “Turmut-Hoeing.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gurney/3/.
Chicago
Gurney, Ivor. “Turmut-Hoeing.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gurney/3/.
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