Flora Thompson: Home Thoughts from the Desert
In Hampshire now, the woods are brown,
The heath-sands tawny-gold with rain;
The mist lies blue on Bratley Down,
The firelight flecks the window pane-
In Hampshire now!
The wind comes screaming from the sea,
The wild sea-horses champ and roar,
And every oak on Dudman’s Lea
Echoes the tumult of the shore-
In Hampshire now!
The ‘Wight lies wrapt in cloud and mist,
Scarce once a week they’ll see it clear,
And then it glows like amethyst-
And Oh, I would that I were there,
In Hampshire now!
Amidst the desert sand and heat,
I hear the wheeling seabirds scream,
Scent the good smoke of burning peat,
Then wake and find it but a dream-
Ah, Hampshire dear!
