Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.
In Romney MarshJohn Davidson (18571909)
A
I heard the South sing o’er the land;
I saw the yellow sunlight fall
On knolls where Norman churches stand.
Within the wind a core of sound,
The wire from Romney town to Hythe
Alone its airy journey wound.
And trail’d its fringe along the Straits;
The upper air like sapphire glow’d;
And roses fill’d Heaven’s central gates.
The swinging waves peal’d on the shore;
The saffron beach, all diamond drops
And beads of surge, prolong’d the roar.
I saw above the Downs’ low crest
The crimson brands of sunset fall,
Flicker and fade from out the west.
The stars in one great shower came down;
Shrill blew the wind; and shrill the wire
Rang out from Hythe to Romney town.
Streamed as the waves clashed on the shore;
The beach, with all its organ stops
Pealing again, prolong’d the roar.