Sonnets on Separation II.

    The time is all so short. One week is much
        To be without your deep and peaceful eyes,
    Your soft and all-contenting cheek, the touch
        Of well-caressing hands.    O were we wise
    We would not love too strongly, would not bind
        Life into life so inextricably,
    That the dumb body suffers with the mind
        In a sad partnership this agony.
    For death will come and swallow up us two,
        You there, I here, and we shall lie apart,
    Out of the houses and the woods we knew.
        Then in the lonely grave, my dust-choked heart
    Out of the dust will raise, if it can speak,
    A threnody for this lost, lovely week.

Edward Shanks

Edward Shanks was an English writer, poet, and novelist, known for his literary contributions during the early 20th century. Born on June 11, 1892, in London, Shanks attended Cambridge University where he was a member of the 'War Poets' of World War I. His works reflect the turmoil and changes of his time. Besides poetry, he wrote novels, essays, and book reviews, contributing significantly to English literature. He passed away on May 4, 1953.

Edward Shanks

A Hollow Elm

Edward Shanks, Simple Poetry

Song: The Cup.

Edward Shanks, Simple Poetry

Apology.

Edward Shanks, Simple Poetry

The Cataclysm

Edward Shanks, Simple Poetry

English

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Sonnets on Separation I.

    The    time shall be, old Wisdom says, when you
        Shall grow awrinkled and I, indifferent,
    Shall no more follow the light steps I knew
        Or trace you, finding out the way you went,
    By swinging branches and the displaced flowers
        Among the thickets.    I no more shall stand,
    With careful pencil through the adoring hours
        Scratching your grace on paper.    My still hand
    No more shall tremble at the touch of yours
        And I'll write no more songs and you'll not sing.
    But this is all a lie, for love endures
        And we shall closer kiss, remembering
    How budding trees turned barren in the sun
    Through this long week, whereof one day's now done.

Edward Shanks

Sonnets on Separation III.

    Is there no prophylactic against love?
        Can I with drugs not dull the ache one night?
    The rain is heavy and the low clouds move
        Over the empty home of our delight
    And find me in it weeping.    You are far
        And you are now asleep.    The night's so thick,
    Not even one stooping and compassionate star
        Shines on us both disparted.    O be quick,
    Torturing days and heavy, turn your hours
        To minutes, melt yourselves into one day!
    ... The cold rain falls in swift assailing showers,
        Darkness is round me and light far away.
    I'm in our well-known room and you're shut in
    By strange unfriendly walls I've never seen.

Edward Shanks

Sonnets on Separation VI.

    To-morrow I shall see you come again
        Between the pale trees, through the sullen gate,
    Out of the dark and secret house of pain
        Where lie the unhappy and unfortunate.
    To-morrow you will live with me and love me,
        Spring will go on again, I'll see the flowers
    And little things, ridiculous things, shall move me
        To smiles or tears or verse.    The world is ours
    To-morrow.    Open heaths, tall trees, great skies,
        With massive clouds that fly and come again,
    Sweet fields, delicious rivers and the rise
        And fall of swelling land from the swift train
    We'll see together, knowing that all this
    Is one great room wherein we two may kiss.

Edward Shanks

Sonnets on Separation IV.

    Lovers that drug themselves for ecstasy
        Seek love too closely in an overdose,
    When the sweet spasm turns to agony
        And the quick limbs are still and the eyes close.
    I too, a fool, desired, to make love strong,
        Absence and parting but the measure's brimmed,
    The dose is over-poured, the time's too long
        Already, though two nights have hardly dimmed
    My lonely eyes with the elusive sleep.
        O I'll remember, I'll not wish again
    To go with ardent limbs into this deep
        Sea of dejection, this dull mere of pain:
    We'll love our safer loves upon the shore
    And quest for inexperienced joys no more.

Edward Shanks

Sonnets on Separation V.

    Through the closed curtains comes the early sun,
        First a pale finger, preluding the hand.
    Outside more certainly the day's begun,
        Where bright and brighter still the chestnuts stand,
    Broad candles lighting up at the first fire.
        I stir and turn in my uneasy sleep
    But in my sorrow sleep's my whole desire.
        About the still room small lights move and creep
    Silently, stealthily on wall and chair,
        Till to strong rays and shining lights they grow,
    Which with their magic change the waiting air
        And all its sleeping motes to gold and throw
    A golden radiance on your empty bed,
    Which wakes me with vain likeness to your head.

Edward Shanks

Sonnets on Separation VII.

    We're at the world's top now.    The hills around
        Stand proud in order with the valleys deep,
    The hills with pastures drest, with tall trees crowned,
        And the low valleys dipt in sunny sleep.
    A sound brims all the country up, a noise
        Of wheels upon the road and labouring bees
    And trodden heather, mixing with the voice
        Of small lost winds that die among the trees.
    And we are prone beneath the flooding sun,
        So drenched, so soaked in the unceasing light,
    That colours, sounds and your close presence are one,
        A texture woven up of all delight,
    Whose shining threads my hands may not undo,
    Yet one thread runs the whole bright garment through.

Edward Shanks