Ivor Gurney - Winter Beauty
Channel: PoetryProse Project
Date: 03/04/2015

WINTER BEAUTY 

I cannot live with Beauty out of mind ; 

I seek her and desire her all the day, 
Being the chiefest treasure man may find, 

And word most sweet his eager lips can say. 
She is as strong on me as though I wandered 

In Severn meadows some blue riotous day. 



But since the trees have long since lost their 
green, 

And I, an exile, can but dream of things 
Grown magic in the mind, I watch the sheen 

Of frost and hear the song Orion sings, 
And hear the star-born passion of Beethoven ; 

Man's consolations sung on the quivering strings. 

Beauty of song remembered, sunset glories, 
Mix in my mind, till I not care nor know 

Whether the stars do move me, golden stories, 
Or ruddy Cotswold in the sunset glow. 

I am uprapt, and not my own, immortal, . . . 
In winds of Beauty swinging to and fro. 

Beauty immortal, not to be hid, desire 

Of all men, each in his fashion, give me the 
strong 

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Thirst past satisfaction for thee, and fire 

Not to be quenched. . . . O lift me, bear me 
along, 
'Touch me, make me worthy that men may seek 
me 
For Beauty, Mistress Immortal, Healer of 
Wrong.