<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Lunae</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">HAVE you ridden alone in the country ever</p><p class="line">By the dusty light of the harvest-moon?</p><p class="line">—Cycled intent in a vain endeavour</p><p class="line">To match your speed to your soul's quick tune</p><p class="line">When there's never a sound to break the magic;</p><p class="line">For the tyres' crisp whir on the powdered road</p><p class="line">And the hoot of an owl in the distance, tragic,</p><p class="line">Are pricking your heart with a fairy goad?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then the hawthorn hedges, sweet dissembling,</p><p class="line">Stealthily close on your path, till fear</p><p class="line">Of their dense bulk looms; and your heartsick</p><p class="line">trembling</p><p class="line">Shakes into stillness as you swing clear.</p><p class="line">Then the high haw-hedges furious will bide.</p><p class="line">Drawing back from the light of the moon:</p><p class="line">But the black trees haste down the silver hillside.</p><p class="line">You know in your heart that you laughed too soon,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They reach the roadside; and, leaning over.</p><p class="line">Wait for your coming. A swerving flash</p><p class="line">Through their clutching fingers—then dreamin</p><p class="line">clover.</p><p class="line">And corn amazed at your passing dash</p><p class="line">Over the bridge as the water glides black</p><p class="line">Darker than death in a dream: then pales.</p><p class="line">The enchanted ground from the village slides bad</p><p class="line">Voices and lights: and the magic fails.</p></div></body></html> · Great War