THE FAUN COMPLAINS
They give me aëroplanesInstead of birds and moths;Instead of sunny fieldsThey give me mud-holes;And for my day-long, night-long sacred hush,(Flutter of leaves, bee-murmurs in the flowers,Ripe seeded grass just stirring into music)A hush wherein one seemed to hearThe invisible wheels of burning starsEchoing upon the tiled paths of heaven—For this they give me noise,Harsh clangours of breaking metal,Abrupt huge bursts of flame.
And for my woodland playmates,Dryads, yellow subtle fauns,Naked wanton hamadryads,And stealthy water-girlsWho stole my honey and my fruitsWhen I lay sleeping by their pools—For these they give me men,Odd, loud-voiced, fearsome men,Who mock my little horns and pointed ears!