John Freeman Poems

Just as this wood, cast on the snaky fire,
Crushes the curling heads till smoke is thickened
And the ash sinks beneath the billet's weight,
...

Music comes
Sweetly from the trembling string
When wizard fingers sweep
Dreamily, half asleep;
...

In a great western wind we climbed the hill
And saw the clouds run up, ride high and sink;
And there were shadows running at our feet
...

Beneath the trees with heedful step and slow
At night I go,
Fearful upon their whispering to break
Lest they awake
...

For so long and so long had I forgot,
Serenely busied
With thousand things; at whiles desire grew hot
And my soul dizzied
...

The dead white on the fields' dead white
Turned the peace to misery.
Tall bony trees their wild arms thrust
...

Within the greenhouse dim and damp
The heat floats like a cloud.
Pale rose-leaves droop from the rust roof
With rust-edged roses bowed.
...

The clouds no more are flocking
After the flushing sun;
Bees end their long droning,
...

The tall slaves bow if that capricious King
But glances as he passes;
Their dark hoods drawing over abashed faces
They bow humbly, unappealingly.
...

When I had dreamed and dreamed what woman's beauty was,
And how that beauty seen from unseen surely flowed,
...