Poor hill farmer astray in the grass;
There came a movement and he looked up, but
All that he saw was the wind pass.
There was a sound of voice on the air.
But where, where? It was only the glib stream talking
Softly to itself. And once when he was walking
Along a lane in spring he was deceived
By a shrill; whistle coming through the leaves;
Wait a minute, wait a minute-four swift notes;
He turned, and it was nothing, only a Thrush
In the thorn bushes easing its throat.
He swore at himself for paying heed,
The poor hill farmer, so often again
Stopping, staring, listening, in vain,
His ear betrayed by the heart’s need.
(R S Thomas)
More Poetry from R S Thomas:
R S Thomas Poems based on Topics: Spring, R. S. Thomas Poems about Listening- Thirteen Blackbirds Looking at a Man (R S Thomas Poems)
- A Welsh Testament (R S Thomas Poems)
- Welsh Landscape (R S Thomas Poems)
- Welsh History (R S Thomas Poems)
- The Face (R S Thomas Poems)
- A Peasant (R S Thomas Poems)