3 MAY 1924, Page 16

POETRY.

AN OLD LADY READING.

EARTH iS predominant, clay vessel emptied,

Hollow and void of all but memories, Gone—gone—the eternal soul of laughter, The loveliness, the hopefulness, the pain,

Nothingness unto nothingness returned—

That's her body—that sits here waiting, shaking, Evening shadow of a wind-tossed tree ; As a shade set free at dawn—so shall she be Soaked in a deluge of untarnished light,.

When the blind page drops, at last— And the blank eyes shut.

K. STALLIBRASS.