Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


INDIANA BEECH WOODS: AUGUST by ETHEL ARNOLD TILDEN

First Line: BEYOND THE SPRAWLING SNAKE-RAIL FENCE
Last Line: WHIMPERING, WHIMPERING, CEASELESSLY --
Subject(s): AUGUST; BEECH TREES; TREES;

Beyond the sprawling snake-rail fence,
The light above the lime road quivers --
Vibrant, like pulses, throb and beat
Little dizzy waves of heat --
The ferns are dead, the sick grass shivers --
The blinding air is breathless, tense --
Above the brook's green stagnant bed,
The beeches droop, burned dusty red.
Listless, I lie on the bank and dream
And watch blue dragon-flies follow the stream
Deep into the wood where rain doves cry,
Whimpering, whimpering, ceaselessly --



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