Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GOLDSMITH by SIEGFRIED SASSOON

Poet Analysis

First Line: THIS JOB'S THE BEST I'VE DONE. HE BENT HIS HEAD
Last Line: A GIRL WAS SELLING FLOWERS ALONG THE STREET.
Subject(s): CRETE; GOLD;
'THIS job's the best I've done.' He bent his head
Over the golden vessel that he'd wrought.
A bird was singing. But the craftsman's thought
Is a forgotten language, lost and dead.

He sighed and stretch'd brown arms. His friend came in
And stood beside him in the morning sun.
The goldwork glitter'd.... 'That's the best I've done.
'And now I've got a necklace to begin.'

This was at Gnossos, in the isle of Crete...
A girl was selling flowers along the street.




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