Selected Poems (Aiken)/Sea Holly

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SEA HOLLY
Begotten by the meeting of rock with rock,The mating of rock and rock, rocks gnashing together;Created so, and yet forgetful, walksThe seaward path, puts up her left hand, shadesBlue eyes, the eyes of rock, to see betterIn slanting light the ancient sheep (which kneelsBiting the grass) the while her other hand,Hooking the wicker handle, turns the basketOf eggs. The sea is high to-day. The eggsAre cheaper. The sea is blown from the southwest,Confused, taking up sand and mud in waves,The waves break, sluggish, in brown foam, the windDisperses (on the sheep and hawthorn) spray,—And on her cheeks, the cheeks engendered of rock,And eyes, the colour of rock. The left handFalls from the eyes, and undecided slidesOver the left breast on which muslin lightlyRests, touching the nipple, and then downThe hollow side, virgin as rock, and bitterlyCaresses the blue hip.
             It was for this,This obtuse taking of the seaward path,This stupid hearing of larks, this hookingOf wicker, this absent observation of sheepKneeling in harsh sea-grass, the cool hand shadingThe spray-stung eyes—it was for this the rockSmote itself. The sea is higher today, ​And eggs are cheaper. The eyes of rock take inThe seaward path that winds toward the sea,The thistle-prodder, old woman under a bonnet,Forking the thistles, her back against the sea,Pausing, with hard hands on the handle, peeringWith rock eyes from her bonnet.
              It was for this,This rock-lipped facing of brown waves, half sandAnd half water, this tentative hand that slidesOver the breast of rock, and into the hollowSoft side of muslin rock, and then fiercelyAlmost as rock against the hip of rock—It was for this in midnight the rocks met,And dithered together, cracking and smoking.
              It was for thisBarren beauty, barrenness of rock that achesOn the seaward path, seeing the fruitful sea,Hearing the lark of rock that sings, smellingThe rock-flower of hawthorn, sweetness of rock—It was for this, stone pain in the stony heart,The rock loved and laboured; and all is lost.

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