14. Goldsmith, The. Sassoon, Siegfried. 1920. Picture-Show

Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967). Picture-Show. 1920.

14. The Goldsmith

‘THIS job’s the best I’ve done.’ He bent his head
Over the golden vessel that he’d wrought.
A bird was singing. But the craftsman’s thought
Is a forgotten language, lost and dead.

He sighed and stretch’d brown arms. His friend came in	5
And stood beside him in the morning sun.
The goldwork glitter’d.... ‘That’s the best I’ve done.
‘And now I’ve got a necklace to begin.’

This was at Gnossos, in the isle of Crete...
A girl was selling flowers along the street.	10