 | New Ballads |  |
57
WINTER RAIN
Motionless, leaden cloud
The region roofed and walled;
Beneath, a tempest shrieked aloud,
And the forest beckoned and called.
The region roofed and walled;
Beneath, a tempest shrieked aloud,
And the forest beckoned and called.
The blackthorn coppice was all ablaze,
And shot and garlanded,
With bronzed and wreathing bramble sprays,
And bright leaves green and red.
And shot and garlanded,
With bronzed and wreathing bramble sprays,
And bright leaves green and red.
The dripping pollards their shock-heads hung,
And in the glistening shaws,
Lustres and glories of rubies, swung
The dark wet crimson haws.
And in the glistening shaws,
Lustres and glories of rubies, swung
The dark wet crimson haws.
58
The dead leaves pattered and stole about
Like elves in the sheltered glades,
And rushed down the broad green rides and out
O'er the fields in windy raids.
Like elves in the sheltered glades,
And rushed down the broad green rides and out
O'er the fields in windy raids.
The motionless, leaden sky,
Emptied itself amain,
And the angry east with hue and cry
Dashed at the pouring rain.
Emptied itself amain,
And the angry east with hue and cry
Dashed at the pouring rain.
The forest rocked and sang:
Behind the passing blast
Far off the new blast faintly rang
Arrived and roared, and passed,
In the liberty of the open sea
To find a home at last.
Behind the passing blast
Far off the new blast faintly rang
Arrived and roared, and passed,
In the liberty of the open sea
To find a home at last.
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