"HOU, Hou" went the neatherd moaning Down along by the pasture's side; He turned the cows at the midden-yard loaning, The loitering cows in the brown owl-tide: Pale rose the last one, munching, droning, With wet grass-stains on her udder and hide. My lantern's rings to the low balks floated As Whitey's tail shook the mistal-sneck; When I laid my cheek to her belly spotted I felt her honey-strong breath in my neck, For she turns her head does the curd-dark throated To watch my mouth start her teats with a peck. Dusked seemed the eve as the cows trod in Under the roof-drip, each to her stalling; Full udders crusht shagged thighs between Were warm to my hands in the chill air's palling; And through the wind's drifting of leaves yet green "Hou, Hou" neared the neatherd's calling. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COLD HANDS WARM HEART by KAREN SWENSON JACOBITE'S TOAST (TO AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY) by JOHN BYROM THE OTHER SIDE OF A MIRROR by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE BRIDGE: PROEM. TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE by HAROLD HART CRANE A LOVE LETTER by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SANDALPHON by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |