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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SUNKEN LANE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN

Poet Analysis

First Line: BEHIND THE MEADOW WHERE THE WINDMILL STOOD
Last Line: THE JUTTING STONES STOOD WHITENED WITH THE SUN.

BEHIND the meadow where the windmill stood
There lies a swampy, unfrequented lane.
There lodges all the high ground's winter rain,
And stores sharp scent of sodden underwood.
Tussocks and plantains coarse and celandines
Trammel the creeping water, till at foot
It rills out where the spiky horsetails shoot
In tiny vision of primeval scenes.

So in this lane to-day my half-shut eyes
Saw monstrous waterwoods and weeds coiled high,
Whose heavy heat and shadow seemed to stun,
And saurians horrible of form and size.

Softly the twinkling water travelled by,
The jutting stones stood whitened with the sun.



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