Thursday, December 25, 2008

Geoffrey Hill: Epiphany at Hurcott

[New Criterion Jan 06: pub. in Without Title]

Epiphany at Hurcott
by Geoffrey Hill

Profoundly silent January shows up
clamant with colour, greening in fine rain,
luminous malachite of twig-thicket and bole
brightest at sundown.

On hedge-banks and small rubbed bluffs the red earth,
dampened to umber, tints the valley sides.
Holly cliffs glitter like cut anthracite.
The lake, reflective, floats, brimfull, its tawny sky.

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