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In Answer to a Request
Poppy Seed
The Great Adventure of Max Breuck
Sancta Maria； Succurre Miseris
After Hearing a Waltz by Bartok
Clear； with Light； Variable Winds
The Basket
In a Castle
The Book of Hours of Sister Clotilde
The Exeter Road
The Shadow
The Forsaken
Late September
The Pike
The Blue Scarf
White and Green
Aubade
Music
A Lady
In a Garden
A Tulip Garden
Sword Blades and Poppy Seed
…
Sword Blades and Poppy Seed
A drifting； April； twilight sky；
A wind which blew the puddles dry；
And slapped the river into waves
That ran and hid among the staves
Of an old wharf。 A watery light
Touched bleak the granite bridge； and white
Without the slightest tinge of gold；
The city shivered in the cold。
All day my thoughts had lain as dead；
Unborn and bursting in my head。
From time to time I wrote a word
Which lines and circles overscored。
My table seemed a graveyard； full
Of coffins waiting burial。
I seized these vile abortions； tore
Them into jagged bits； and swore
To be the dupe of hope no more。
Into the evening straight I went；
Starved of a day's accomplishment。
Unnoticing； I wandered where
The city gave a space for air；
And on the bridge's parapet
I leant； while pallidly there set
A dim； discouraged； worn…out sun。
Behind me； where the tramways run；
Blossomed bright lights； I turned to leave；
When someone plucked me by the sleeve。
〃Your pardon； Sir； but I should be
Most grateful could you lend to me
A carfare； I have lost my purse。〃
The voice was clear； concise； and terse。
I turned and met the quiet gaze
Of strange eyes flashing through the haze。
The man was old and slightly bent；
Under his cloak some instrument
Disarranged its stately line；
He rested on his cane a fine
And nervous hand； an almandine
Smouldered with dull…red flames； sanguine
It burned in twisted gold； upon
His finger。 Like some Spanish don；
Conferring favours even when
Asking an alms； he bowed again
And waited。 But my pockets proved
Empty； in vain I poked and shoved；
No hidden penny lurking there
Greeted my search。 〃Sir； I declare
I have no money； pray forgive；
But let me take you where you live。〃
And so we plodded through the mire
Where street lamps cast a wavering fire。
I took no note of where we went；
His talk became the element
Wherein my being swam； content。
It flashed like rapiers in the night
Lit by uncertain candle…light；
When on some moon…forsaken sward
A quarrel dies upon a sword。
It hacked and carved like a cutlass blade；
And the noise in the air the broad words made
Was the cry of the wind at a window…pane
On an Autumn night of sobbing rain。
Then it would run like a steady stream
Under pinnacled bridges where minarets gleam；
Or lap the air like the lapping tide
Where a marble staircase lifts its wide
Green…spotted steps to a garden gate；
And a waning moon is sinking straight
Down to a black and ominous sea；
While a nightingale sings in a lemon tree。
I walked as though some opiate
Had stung and dulled my brain； a state
Acute and slumbrous。 It grew late。
We stopped； a house stood silent； dark。
The old man scratched a match； the spark
Lit up the keyhole of a door；
We entered straight upon a floor
White with finest powdered sand
Carefully sifted； one might stand
Muddy and dripping； and yet no trace
Would stain the boards of this kitchen…place。
From the chimney； red eyes sparked the gloom；
And a cricket's chirp filled all the room。
My host threw pine…cones on the fire
And crimson and scarlet glowed the pyre
Wrapped in the golden flame's desire。
The chamber opened like an eye；
As a half…melted cloud in a Summer sky
The soul of the house stood guessed； and shy
It peered at the stranger warily。
A little shop with its various ware
Spread on shelves with nicest care。
Pitchers； and jars； and jugs； and pots；
Pipkins； and mugs； and many lots
Of lacquered canisters； black and gold；
Like those in which Chinese tea is sold。
Chests； and puncheons； kegs； and flasks；
Goblets； chalices； firkins； and casks。
In a corner three ancient amphorae leaned
Against the wall； like ships careened。
There was dusky blue of Wedgewood ware；
The carved； white figures fluttering there
Like leaves adrift upon the air。
Classic in touch； but emasculate；
The Greek soul grown effeminate。
The factory of Sevres had lent
Elegant boxes with ornament
Culled from gardens where fountains splashed
And golden carp in the shadows flashed；
Nuzzling for crumbs under lily…pads；
Which ladies threw as the last of fads。
Eggshell trays where gay beaux knelt；
Hand on heart； and daintily spelt
Their love in flowers； brittle and bright；
Artificial and fragile； which told aright
The vows of an eighteenth…century knight。
The cruder tones of old Dutch jugs
Glared from one shelf； where Toby mugs
Endlessly drank the foaming ale；
Its froth grown dusty； awaiting sale。
The glancing light of the burning wood
Played over a group of jars which stood
On a distant shelf； it seemed the sky
Had lent the half…tones of his blazonry
To paint these porcelains with unknown hues
Of reds dyed purple and greens turned blues；
Of lustres with so evanescent a sheen
Their colours are felt； but never seen。
Strange winged dragons writhe about
These vases； poisoned venoms spout；
Impregnate with old Chinese charms；
Sealed urns containing mortal harms；
They fill the mind with thoughts impure；
Pestilent drippings from the ure
Of vicious thinkings。 〃Ah； I see；〃
Said I； 〃you deal in pottery。〃
The old man turned and looked at me。
Shook his head gently。 〃No；〃 said he。
Then from under his cloak he took the thing
Which I had wondered to see him bring
Guarded so carefully from sight。
As he laid it down it flashed in the light；
A Toledo blade； with basket hilt；
Damascened with arabesques of gilt；
Or rather gold； and tempered so
It could cut a floating thread at a blow。
The old man smiled； 〃It has no sheath；
'Twas a little careless to have it beneath
My cloak； for a jostle to my arm
Would have resulted in serious harm。
But it was so fine； I could not wait；
So I brought it with me despite its state。〃
〃An amateur of arms；〃 I thought；
〃Bringing home a prize which he has bought。〃
〃You care for this sort of thing； Dear Sir？〃
〃Not in the way which you infer。
I need them in business； that is all。〃
And he pointed his finger at the wall。
Then I saw what I had not noticed before。
The walls were hung with at least five score
Of swords and daggers of every size
Which nations of militant men could devise。
Poisoned spears from tropic seas；
That natives； under banana trees；
Smear with the juice of some deadly snake。
Blood…dipped arrows； which savages make
And tip with feathers； orange and green；
A quivering death； in ha