10. Suburbs on a Hazy Day. Lawrence, D. H. 1916. New Poems

D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930). New Poems. 1916.

10. Suburbs on a Hazy Day

O STIFFLY shapen houses that change not,
What conjuror’s cloth was thrown across you, and raised
To show you thus transfigured, changed,
Your stuff all gone, your menace almost rased?

Such resolute shapes, so harshly set	5
In hollow blocks and cubes deformed, and heaped
In void and null profusion, how is this?
In what strong aqua regia now are you steeped?

That you lose the brick-stuff out of you
And hover like a presentment, fading faint	10
And vanquished, evaporate away
To leave but only the merest possible taint!