Time & Brevity

How at Once

by Edward Thomas 1878–1917

From Collected Poems (1920)

Time & Brevity

How at once should I know,
When stretched in the harvest blue
I saw the swift's black bow,
That I would not have that view
Another day
Until next May
Again it is due?

The same year after year--
But with the swift alone.
With other things I but fear
That they will be over and done
Suddenly
And I only see
Them to know them gone.

MLA

Thomas, Edward. “How at Once.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas_e/71/.

Chicago

Thomas, Edward. “How at Once.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas_e/71/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Edward Thomas