England and Yesterday — The Yew-Tree

THE YEW-TREE.

As I came homeward At merry Christmas, By the old church tower, Through the churchyard grass, And saw there, circled With graves all about, The yew-tree paternal, The yew-tree devout, Then this hot life-blood Was hard to endure, O Death!

so I loved thee, The sole love sure.

For stars slip in heaven, They wander, they break: But under the yew-tree Not one heartache.

And ours, what failure Renewed and avowed!

But ah, the long-buried Is leal, and is proud.

Now I came homeward At merry Christmas, By the wise gray tower, Through the green kind grass.