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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SUNSET AFTER RAIN, by ELIZA L. SPROAT First Line: Oh, cheerless, sunless day! The maudlin clouds Last Line: Stands in the presence of the universe. | |||
OH, cheerless, sunless day! The maudlin clouds Have wept and wept; the wind, with ceaseless whine, Has wandered through the rain; now stooping low To plague the sullen stream; now whirling high, And diving down some chimney, where the dame Strove vainly for a cheerful evening fire, Fighting the smoke into her patient face; Now skimming earth so swift, that the long grass Grew shrill with pain, now blustering past the flowers, And through the angry corn; now to the stream, Making the willows sulk, and flounce, and trail Their wet arms on the ground; now, scorning earth, He's up to fight the clouds. Good wind, sweet wind, Battle them sore, -- scatter the enemy, That we may bid good-even to the sun, And bless his journey. Joy! The weary foes Have raised the siege, and now, dispersing slow, They melt before the sun. The mighty trees Doff their dark haughtiness, and stand ablaze Thrilled by the rich free light, that suddenly Enclasping, sets each separate soft green leaf Quivering with life; till, with majestic joy, They fling on high their bold ambitious arms, In hope to touch the skies that seem so near. The loving clouds bend downward from the blue, And form, and melt, and break like hills of foam, Paling to silver; blushing back to rose; Gathering in mountains of rich purple glooms; Deepening to awful caverns and strange chasms; Then breaking, softening, melting, till the sky Grows dark, and deep, and clear, and a keen eye Can almost reach to heaven, whence stepping forth With their fresh glory on them, one by one The great stars take their places; and poor Earth Stands in the presence of the Universe. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRISONER'S CHILD by ELIZA L. SPROAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR: OR EATING GRASS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE LADY'S 'YES' by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE ENKINDLED SPRING by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE GOOD FRIDAY (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE TWO ANGELS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER NEGRO GIRL by IRENE COOPER ALLEN |
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