Nature

Turmut-Hoeing

by Ivor Gurney 1890–1937

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

NatureLiving

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.

✦ ✦ ✦

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.'

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/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Ivor Gurney