18 DECEMBER 1953, Page 17

Eros and the City

Love makes short work of archaeology. In buried cities of the mind We only see the things we want to see And over every bright discovery The eagle lover stares himself stone-blind. Love makes short work of archaeology.

However keen the arrow-heads may be, Here's metal more attractive to the mind. We only see the things we want to see, Since every lover has the faculty Of ending sightless as he started blind. Love makes short work of archaeology Till Cleopatra and Mark Antony Are hidden out of sight and out of mind. We only see the things we want to see : The play's the thing and not the tragedy When Eros strips the armour of the blind. Love makes short work of archaeology.

We only see the things we want to see.

ANTHONY HARTLEY