A startling opening image and a description of spirits unexpectedly lifted make this piece by Edward Thomas quietly memorable.

It was written in 1916, the year before his death at Arras in April 1917.

DULL-THOUGHTED, WALKING AMONG THE NUNNERIES

Dull-thoughted, walking among the nunneries

Of many a myriad anemones

In the close copses, I grew weary of Spring

Till I emerged and in my wandering

I climbed the down up to a lone pine clump

Of six, the tallest dead, one a mere stump.

On one long stem, branchless and flayed and prone

I sat in the sun listening to the wind alone,

Thinking there could be no old song so sad

As the wind's song; but later none so glad

Could I remember as that same wind's song

All the time blowing the pine boughs among.

My heart that had been still as the dead tree

Awakened by the West wind was made free.