Robert Graves: Larks and Sunshine

Robert Graves, well known to so many for his World War One memoir Goodbye to all that, was fortunate enough to live for many more years after the war; many of which were spent in sunshine far away from the choking gas and mud of the trenches.

On a wonderful summer day like this,  only one of his happiest love poems will do.

 

Love without hope, as when the young bird-catcher
Swept off his tall hat to the Squire’s own daughter,
So let the imprisoned larks escape and fly
Singing about her head, as she rode by.