Upside down

poem

Iris Shaw

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In another hour I constructed

A road which led to nothing

But ate itself, and bent around a silver wood

Not a soul could see, yet trees were felled

And sold in twice ten years to women

Who saw the town beneath their feet

And thought it made of china blocks

(How cunningly

The creatures move about, not men or beasts

But winged liars, gentle reprobates,

Mortal splendours); carelessly they burnt the trees to dust

And swept the shining ashes out

Among the risen company

That choked the air, and yet lay underground,

Breathing earth all while men delve

By the pair or nine or twelve:

They that rise and long were drowned

Come riding on withouten any sound.

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