<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Sonnets</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="subhead">I</p><p class="line">WEARY of strife and sickening at the thought</p><p class="line">My soul desires release, and as I gaze</p><p class="line">Upon the barrenness that war hath wrought,</p><p class="line">Another vision rises in a haze</p><p class="line">Of phantasy—I see a place of rest</p><p class="line">All bathed in sunlight and the scent of flowers,</p><p class="line">Where Time has fall'n asleep on Nature's breast,</p><p class="line">And none may mark the. tread of passing hours.</p><p class="line">And in the fairest part of all, that seems</p><p class="line">The very home of all things pure and good,</p><p class="line">A woman sits with half-closed eyes, and dreams</p><p class="line">In ecstasy of perfect motherhood.</p><p class="line">O wondrous mystery! Behold, the earth</p><p class="line">Blossoms again in mystic second birth.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="subhead">II</p><p class="line">A dark grey sky that merges in the west</p><p class="line">Into pale primrose, where the fading day</p><p class="line">Still lingers like an echo half-expressed</p><p class="line">Of some forgotten glory. By the way.</p><p class="line">Outlined in black against the sky, there stands</p><p class="line">A wayside crucifix among the corn;</p><p class="line">Waiting with tired eyes and outstretched hands,</p><p class="line">In patient expectation of the morn.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The gentle whisper of the poplar trees</p><p class="line">Is hardly loud enough to break the spell</p><p class="line">Of mystic silence. From the church tower's height</p><p class="line">Comes, wafted onward by the dying breeze.</p><p class="line">The solemn tolling of a single bell;</p><p class="line">Then silence and the mystery of night.</p></div></body></html> · Great War