Sunday Poem 50

As promised a bit of Ivor Gurney.

The Wood of August – by Ivor Gurney (1890-1937)

The wood gathers strength of green in mid August
Calling from the deep all store of April water
And later, to be triumphant while the time serves;
Golden rod, orchis, guilder rose and scabious
Grow near him, and he watches the three swerve of Cotswold Edge, South Severn and Malvern Sideways.
Soon he will change, the nuts will ripen, and tideways
Turn greater to the equinox, and brown and brittle
His leaves save the little will change, and he’ll dream
Of two things: how in rich music is fixed his glow:
(Ruddy and bronze), and in All-Hallow his August title
With vanished days to it, is held as high as any
(Poor un-named English Company)
That haws last through November and dare winter’s battle.