 | The Baroness of New York |  |
93
XII.
The flames leapt like some wingéd steed
When furies ride in tempest flight,
They leapt from tossing top and height
Of rosin pine to fragrant fir—
They seemed to lose themselves, to whir
Like sportive birds and in their speed
Leap on in long advance and dart
Red lances through the forest's heart.
When furies ride in tempest flight,
They leapt from tossing top and height
Of rosin pine to fragrant fir—
They seemed to lose themselves, to whir
Like sportive birds and in their speed
Leap on in long advance and dart
Red lances through the forest's heart.
The birds rose dense, a feathered cloud,
And flew with croakings lorn and loud,
With drooping, weary wings and slow
And blew toward the cone of snow.
The fierce flame saw them, and he came,
A sounding full red sea of flame.
And flew with croakings lorn and loud,
With drooping, weary wings and slow
And blew toward the cone of snow.
The fierce flame saw them, and he came,
A sounding full red sea of flame.
The winds came like some great, third wave
Across the tossing tops of fire.
The flame leapt high, then high, then higher—
He sounded like some hollowed cave.
Like battle steed, all undismayed,
He leapt like some mad steed. He neighed.
He laughed at clouds of birds. He laid
The forest level where he came,
He fanned the very stars to flame.
Across the tossing tops of fire.
The flame leapt high, then high, then higher—
He sounded like some hollowed cave.
Like battle steed, all undismayed,
He leapt like some mad steed. He neighed.
94
The forest level where he came,
He fanned the very stars to flame.
He then drew back, then neighed aloud,
Then drew a breath that made a cloud,
Then breathed, then saw the birds once more,
Then leapt more furious than before
And when he now careering came
That cloud of feathers was a flame.
Then drew a breath that made a cloud,
Then breathed, then saw the birds once more,
Then leapt more furious than before
And when he now careering came
That cloud of feathers was a flame.
| The Baroness of New York | |