D. H. Lawrence. Bread upon the Waters. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

Bread upon the Waters

By D. H. Lawrence


SO, you are lost to me.

Ah you, you ear of corn straight lying,
What food is here for the darkly flying
Fowls of the Afterwards?

White bread afloat on the waters,	5
Cast out by the hand that scatters
Food untowards,

Will you come back when the tide turns?
After many days? My heart burns
To know.	10

Will you come back after many days
To say your say as a traveller says
More marvel than woe?

Drift then, for the soundless birds,
As fish, in their shadow-waved herds,	15
To approach you.

Drift then, bread cast out;
Drift, lest I fall in doubt
And reproach you.

For you are lost to me!	20