<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">God</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I WENT alone into the fields to-night,</p><p class="line">And stood upon the hillside, where the oaks</p><p class="line">Have stood and talked of God in the twilight</p><p class="line">For centuries, and cracked their ancient jokes</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Over our heads; those veterans know more</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of God than we have learned with all our lore.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I pressed my cheek against an oak's rough bark.</p><p class="line">And watched the sun drop down behind the hill;</p><p class="line">Silence fell on the valley; the last lark</p><p class="line">Was hushed; and suddenly the wind was still</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A breath of air went rustling through the trees,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And God passed by me in the sunset breeze.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A clock chimed in the valley down below;</p><p class="line">Some children shouted; and the blue smoke curled</p><p class="line">Out of the cottage chimneys—'twas as though</p><p class="line">There could be nothing ugly in the world;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The lights gleamed from the houses in the wood;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And God smiled, for He saw that it was good.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then, as I laid my head upon the ground.</p><p class="line">And waited there for dark night's close embrace,</p><p class="line">I heard, far off, a murmuring, rumbling sound.</p><p class="line">As if the earth groaned at her own disgrace;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">It trembled on the breeze, swelled, and then died;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Again the branches rustled, and God sighed.</p></div></body></html> · Great War