Ernest Dowson Spleen (After Paul Verlaine)

Lowry refers to Ernest Dowson's  poem Spleen ( After Paul Verlaine) in Chapter 3 of Ultramarine during a long internal dialogue by Dana Hilliot as he muses after his drunken drift through the red light district of Dairen; I am so tired of holly-sprays and weary of the bright box-tree." (Pg. 112)

SPLEEN (After Paul Verlaine)

Around were all the roses red,
The ivy all around was black.

Dear, so thou only move thine head,
Shall all mine old despairs awake!

Too blue, too tender was the sky,
The air too soft, too green the sea.

Always I fear, I know not why,
Some lamentable flight from thee.

I am so tired of holly-sprays
And weary of the bright box-tree,

Of all the endless country ways;
Of everything alas! save thee.