English Poetry. Elinor Wylie. Sanctuary. Элинор Уайли.

Elinor Wylie (Элинор Уайли)

Sanctuary

This is the bricklayer; hear the thud 
Of his heavy load dumped down on stone. 
His lustrous bricks are brighter than blood, 
His smoking mortar whiter than bone.

Set each sharp-edged, fire-bitten brick 
Straight by the plumb-line’s shivering length; 
Make my marvelous wall so thick 
Dead nor living may shake its strength.

Full as a crystal cup with drink 
Is my cell with dreams, and quiet, and cool. . . . 
Stop, old man! You must leave a chink; 
How can I breathe? You can’t, you fool!

Elinor Wylie’s other poems:

1. The Fairy Goldsmith
2. The Prinkin’ Leddie
3. Poor Earth
4. Quarrel
5. The Puritan’s Ballad

Poems of other poets with the same name (Стихотворения других поэтов с таким же названием):

Dora Sigerson Shorter (Дора Сигерсон Шортер) Sanctuary (“Neighbour! for pity a hound cries on your steps”)

887

To the dedicated English version of this website

---