18 JULY 1931, Page 9

Tunnel

Tae light of day goes a long way into the tunnel—

Not sunlight itself, but water-light Distinct from the sun's golden wine : It pours through the neck, and we jerk along the funnel Straining with us the last grey vertical line.

But in vain, for the eyeballs press against black pansies And globe-feather poppies that cannot grow in the light ; Eye-fuls of weighing dark softness.

Then one of the petals is torn, and in faster succession

From grey to grey brick-line brightening the strokes steal back ; Till unbroken brook-light, and out between fields flooded Flower-deep in the sun's wine.

PHOEBE ASHBiJRNE/A.