The day was long, it seemed as long br As Adam to the Flood; br I listened to the blackbird's song br But eyed the mud. br br The mud that seemed to stretch right back br Through childhood and the farms br Of England, to a time quite black - br No singing, no alarms - br br A physical time when the only clock br Was the sun, not the human heart; br When the chance pattern of splitting rock br Happened like art br br Long forgotten, to leave its trace br Rumpled and wrinkled, obscure - br Like primaeval song to a new race br Uncomprehending the pure. br br At seven the dusk began to fall br And a light rain started; br At length I heard a woman's call - br The blackbird departed.