Robecq had straw and a comfortable tavern <br />There men might their sinews feel slowly recovering <br />From the march-strain and there was Autumn's translucence <br />In the calm air, and a tang of the earth and its essence. <br />A girl served wine there with natural dignity <br />Moving as any princess from care free, <br />And the North French air bathed crystal the flat land <br />With cabbages and tobacco plants and varied culture spanned. <br />Beautiful with moist clarity of Autumn's breath. <br />Lovely with the years turning to leafless death <br />Robecq, the dark town at night with estaminets lit, <br />The outside road with poplars, plane trees on it, <br />Huge dark barn with candles throwing warning flares <br />Glooms steady + shifting pierced with cold flowing airs, <br />With dumb peace at last and a wrapping from cares.<br /><br />Ivor Gurney<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/robecq-again/
