University of Virginia Library


35

On Malvern Hills

“Thou mightest better mete the mist on Malvern hills—” (Prologue to Vision of Piers the Plowman)

Easier measure the mist on Malvern hills
Than—never mind what, in the saying of dour Long Will's—
Is it measureless, measureless mist on Malvern hills?
But, oh, can you measure the sunshine on Malvern hills,
The sunshine, the wonderful sunshine, on Malvern hills?
Man, do you measure life by its joys or its ills?
Judge by the mist or the sunshine upon the hills?
Is it measureless mist or sunshine your heart that fills?
The mist that will flee away with its mirk and its chills—
Or the sunshine eternal of God's eternal hills?