The small wind whispers through the leafless hedge Most sharp and chill, where the light snowy flakes Rest on each twig and spike of withered sedge, Resembling scattered feathers; -- vainly breaks The pale split sunbeam through the frowning cloud, On Winter's frowns below -- from day to day Unmelted still he spreads his hoary shroud, In dithering pride on the pale traveler's way, Who, croodling, hastens from the storm behind Fast gathering deep and black, again to find His cottage-fire and corner's sheltering bounds; Where, haply, such uncomfortable days Make musical the wood-sap's frizzling sounds, And hoarse loud bellows puffing up the blaze. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BALLAD OF WILLIAM SYCAMORE (1790-1880) by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE WAKING YEAR by EMILY DICKINSON ON THE EMIGRATION TO AMERICA AND PEOPLING WESTERN COUNTRY by PHILIP FRENEAU A SONNET, TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY MARY WROTH by BEN JONSON AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE REVENGE; A BALLAD OF THE FLEET by ALFRED TENNYSON TO IRELAND IN THE COMING TIMES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |