Ivor Gurney - Influences
Channel: PoetryProse Project
Date: 2015-04-03

Written in the trenches of world war one.



When woods of home grow dark, 

I grow dark too. 
Images of strange power 
Fill me and thrill me that hour, 

Sombre of hue. 

The woods of Dunsinane 

I walk, and know 
What storms did shake Macbeth, 
That brought on Duncan's death, 

And his own woe. 

Strange whispers chill the blood 

Of evil breath ; 
Such rumours as did stir 
Witch and foul sorcerer 

On the lone heath. 

No power have these on me ; 

I know too well 
Their weakness to condemn. 
Spring will exorcise them 

With one bluebell.