The Roman Road

The Roman Road runs straight and bare

As the pale parting-line in hair

Across the heath.  And thoughtful men

Contrast its days of Now and Then,

And delve, and measure, and compare

Visioning on the vacant air

Helmed legionaries, who proudly rear 

The Eagle, as they pace again 

                              The Roman Road. 

But no brass-helmed legionaire

Haunts it for me.  Uprises there

A mother's form upon my ken,

Guiding my infant steps, as when 

We walked that ancient thoroughfare, 

                               The Roman Road.