Edwin Muir Quotes

One foot in Eden still, I stand And look across the other land. The world’s great day is growing late, Yet strange these fields that we have planted So long with crops of love and hate.

Barely a twelvemonth after The seven days war that put the world to sleep, Late in the evening the strange horses came.

Since then they have pulled our ploughs and borne our loads. But that free servitude still can pierce our hearts. Our life is changed; their coming our beginning.

Kindness and courage can repair time’s faults, And serving him breeds patience and courtesy In us, light sojourners and passing subjects.

We have seen Good men made evil wrangling with the evil, Straight minds grown crooked fighting crooked minds. Our peace betrayed us; we betrayed our peace. Look at it well. This was the good town once.

Oh these deceits are strong almost as life. Last night I dreamt I was in the labyrinth, And woke far on. I did not know the place.