What is the matter with the landscape? br Familiar landmarks are not there. br Ploughed fields, like squares upon a chessboard, br Today are scattered everywhere. br br The newly-harrowed vast expanses br So evenly are spread about, br As though the valley had been spring-cleaned br Or else the mountains flattened out. br br And that same day, in one endeavour, br Outside the furrows every tree br Bursts into leaf, light-green and downy, br And stretches skyward, tall and free. br br No speck of dust on the new maples, br And colours nowhere are as clean br As is the light-grey of the ploughland br And as the silver-birch's green.