| |
| AS I went down to Dymchurch Wall, | |
| I heard the South sing o’er the land; | |
| I saw the yellow sunlight fall | |
| On knolls where Norman churches stand. | |
| |
| And ringing shrilly, taut and lithe, | 5 |
| Within the wind a core of sound, | |
| The wire from Romney town to Hythe | |
| Alone its airy journey wound. | |
| |
| A veil of purple vapour flowed | |
| And trail’d its fringe along the Straits; | 10 |
| The upper air like sapphire glow’d; | |
| And roses fill’d Heaven’s central gates. | |
| |
| Masts in the offing wagg’d their tops; | |
| The swinging waves peal’d on the shore; | |
| The saffron beach, all diamond drops | 15 |
| And beads of surge, prolong’d the roar. | |
| |
| As I came up from Dymchurch Wall, | |
| I saw above the Downs’ low crest | |
| The crimson brands of sunset fall, | |
| Flicker and fade from out the west. | 20 |
| |
| Night sank: like flakes of silver fire | |
| The stars in one great shower came down; | |
| Shrill blew the wind; and shrill the wire | |
| Rang out from Hythe to Romney town. | |
| |
| The darkly shining salt sea drops | 25 |
| Streamed as the waves clashed on the shore; | |
| The beach, with all its organ stops | |
| Pealing again, prolong’d the roar. | |
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