The Land of Sunset

And there it was, a tall hill
 Almost a pyramid, cloaked in green grass and cloud shadow
 Topped by a grey tower
 Gaunt, noble against the blue sky
 And there it was, the chalk path
 Just as she said it would be
 Rising like a pilgrim's way
 And there they were, the red roofs of the town below
 And the two sister hills, Wearyall and Chalice
 And beyond those the water cuts, glinting amid the fields
 In the distance were town spires, ridges, dreaming woods
 The ragged line of the Mendips
 And when he turned his head to the south and west
 And craned his eyes as far as he could see
 There was the sea-haze rising above untold low lands, inlets, bays and harbours
 The land of sunset
 And so he walked the chalk path
 Steeper under foot than it had seemed to the eye
 And he felt something catch in his pocket
 He slipped in his hand and drew out her letter
 (...)
 The sun beat on his neck and shoulders
 Still hot in its hour of setting
 And his shadow, immeasurably long, made the climb ahead of him
 Reaching the open gate of the tower, long before he did