Begotten by the meeting of rock with rock, 
The mating of rock and rock, rocks gnashing together; 
Created so, and yet forgetful, walks 
The seaward path, puts up her left hand, shades 
Blue eyes, the eyes of rock, to see better 
In slanting light the ancient sheep (which kneels 
Biting the grass) the while her other hand, 
Hooking the wicker handle, turns the basket 
Of eggs. The sea is high to-day. The eggs 
Are cheaper. The sea is blown from the southwest, 
Confused, taking up sand and mud in waves, 
The waves break, sluggish, in brown foam, the wind 
Disperses (on the sheep and hawthorn) spray,? 
And on her cheeks, the cheeks engendered of rock, 
And eyes, the colour of rock. The left hand 
Falls from the eyes, and undecided slides 
Over the left breast on which muslin lightly 
Rests, touching the nipple, and then down 
The hollow side, virgin as rock, and bitterly 
Caresses the blue hip. 


It was for this, 
This obtuse taking of the seaward path, 
This stupid hearing of larks, this hooking 
Of wicker, this absent observation of sheep 
Kneeling in harsh sea-grass, the cool hand shading 
The spray-stung eyes?it was for this the rock 
Smote itself. The sea is higher to-day, 
And eggs are cheaper. The eyes of rock take in 
The 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, peering 
With rock eyes from her bonnet. 


It was for this, 
This rock-lipped facing of brown waves, half sand 
And half water, this tentative hand that slides 
Over the breast of rock, and into the hollow 
Soft side of muslin rock, and then fiercely 
Almost 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 this 
Barren beauty, barrenness of rock that aches 
On the seaward path, seeing the fruitful sea, 
Hearing the lark of rock that sings, smelling 
The 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.