Ivor Gurney

1890-1937 / England

The Hoe Scrapes Earth

The hoe scrapes earth as fine in grain as sand,
I like the swirl of it and the swing in the hand
Of the lithe hoe so clever at craft and grace,
And the friendliness the clear freedom of the place.

And the green hairs of the wheat on the sandy brown
The draw of eyes toward the coloured town,
The lark ascending slow to a roof of cloud
That cries for the voice of poetry to cry aloud
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