Ivor Gurney

1890-1937 / England

The Square Thing

At Norton Green the tower stands well off road
And is a squareness meaning many things;
Nearest to us, the makers had abode
Beside the Northern road of priests and kings.

Men of a morning looked away to Wales
Or wavy Malvern under smoothy roof;
And said, that we have seen such hills and vales
Our churchkin here must give men certain proof.

And so from virtue mixed of sky and land
They raised a thing to match our equal dreams.
It was no common infire moved their hand,
Building so squarely among meadow streams.
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