Versamelde gedigte

Desert memories

What are they now, those Lybian memories -

Poor migrant quail drowned on the Mersah shore -

The dust - the flies - the diving Stuka's roar -

Life's little-meaning, mild indecencies -
Bright poppies trampled down 'neath beryl skies -

The sea's pure malachite - the hush before

D.I. - parades - sand rats - the Gyppo's store -

[p. 430]

 

The Old Mountain Goat bleating banalities -

 

What are they worth? This, that a man may find

 

In his own chequered course through life, where chance

 

Throws ambs-ace or three sixes, that he lives

 

By moments where the magic of his mind

 

Transmutes all common to that pure romance

 

That gilds with beauty even the pain it gives.