Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell

Bitter Lemons

by Lawrence Durrell

In an island of bitter lemons

Where the moon’s cool fevers burn

From the dark globes of the fruit,

And the dry grass underfoot

Tortures memory and revises

Habits half a lifetime dead

Better leave the rest unsaid,

Beauty, darkness, vehemence

Let the old sea-nurses keep

Their memorials of sleep

And the Greek sea’s curly head

Keep its calms like tears unshed

Keep its calms like tears unshed.