ABSTRACT
fifteenth century Ten thousand years alone, He and I, In our alabaster beds As the dormant fossils lie. Round us in the darkness sleeping, Stone-endued, Squires and kirtled ladies shared Our crowded solitude. Mitred bishops stretched in peace, Palms together; Manor-lords lay uncomplaining Of the heavy limestone weather. Nobles waisted like their greyhounds, Grave and tall; Knights with curving thumb to hilt Alert for trumpet-call— All within the hard lake lying, Without stir, Waited for Creation’s hour Under Derbyshire…. Then our Genesis began. One by one Man’s exploring chisel freed Our bodies to the sun, Carved the entangling stone away From lace and for, From every flowing fold and line, To reveal us as we were; Found the smooth transparency That nature planned; Married us in chapel here, And laid us hand to hand.
