NO stirring: bristly thistles guard Crumbled church and vacant yard. All mouldered save a casual stone Or vagrant tomb: decay alone. So old, so dead, the very ghosts Traitors to their ancient posts. Owl nor bat deign to intrude This time-forgotten solitude. Only rank grass and nettles know The quite oblivious bones below; Only cool dock and sorrel now Where parson sermoned long ago. |