Nature

Swedes

by Edward Thomas 1878–1917

From Poems (1917, as 'Edward Eastaway')

NatureHistory & Politics

They have taken the gable from the roof of clay
On the long swede pile. They have let in the sun
To the white and gold and purple of curled fronds
Unsunned. It is a sight more tender-gorgeous
At the wood-corner where Winter moans and drips
Than when, in the Valley of the Tombs of Kings,
A boy crawls down into a Pharaoh's tomb
And, first of Christian men, beholds the mummy,
God and monkey, chariot and throne and vase,
Blue pottery, alabaster, and gold.

But dreamless long-dead Amen-hotep lies.
This is a dream of Winter, sweet as Spring.

✦ ✦ ✦

Opening the clay-covered swede pile at a wood-corner, to the 'white and gold and purple of curled fronds', the speaker likens it to a boy entering a Pharaoh's tomb. 'This is a dream of Winter, sweet as Spring.'

MLA

Thomas, Edward. “Swedes.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas_e/3/.

Chicago

Thomas, Edward. “Swedes.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas_e/3/.

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