Budging the sluggard ripples of the Somme, <br />A barge round old Cérisy slowly slewed. <br />Softly her engines down the current screwed, <br />And chuckled softly with contented hum, <br />Till fairy tinklings struck their croonings dumb. <br />The waters rumpling at the stern subdued; <br />The lock-gate took her bulging amplitude; <br />Gently from out the gurgling lock she swum. <br /> <br />One reading by that calm bank shaded eyes <br />To watch her lessening westward quietly. <br />Then, as she neared the bend, her funnel screamed. <br />And that long lamentation made him wise <br />How unto Avalon, in agony, <br />Kings passed in the dark barge, which Merlin dreamed.<br /><br />Wilfred Owen<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hospital-barge-at-cerisy/
