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208 KIPLING'S SUSSEX |
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The neighbourhood of Worthing inspired several of W. E. Henley's lyrics: " Hawthorn and Lavender," is dated " Worthing, 1901," and his weird poem on the old boat at Shoreham has a peculiar value :
" In Shoreham river, hurrying down To the live sea,
By working, marrying, breeding Shoreham town, Breaking the sunset's wistful and solemn dream, An old, black 1 otter of a boat Past service. Labouring, tumbling flote, Lay stranded in mid-stream. With a horrid list, a frightening lapse from the line, That made me think of legs and a broken spine ; Soon, all too soon, Ungainly and forlorn to lie Full in the eye
Of the cynical, discomfort able moon, That as I looked, stared from the fading sky, A clown's face floured for work. And by and by The wide-winged sunset waned and waned ; The lean night wind crept westward, chilling and
sighing ; The poor old hulk remained, Stuck helpless in mid-ebb. And I knew why— Why, as I looked the good green earth seemed
dying-Dying or dead :
And, as I looked on the old boat, I said : * Dear God, it's I !'" |
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In Ovingdean Grange," Harrison Ainsworth |
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