THICK lay the dust, uncomfortably white, In glaring mimicry of Arab sand. The woods and mountains slept in hazy light; The meadows looked athirst and tawny tanned; The little rills had left their channels bare, With scarce a pool to witness what they were; And the shrunk river gleamed 'mid oozy stones, That stared like any famished giant's bones. Sudden the hills grew black, and hot as stove The air beneath; it was a toil to be. There was a growling as of angry Jove, Provoked by Juno's prying jealousy -- A flash -- a crash -- the firmament was split, And down it came in drops -- the smallest fit To drown a bee in fox-glove bell concealed; Joy filled the brook, and comfort cheered the field. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...APPRECIATION by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CONTEMPLATIONS by ANNE BRADSTREET JUNE (1) by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT A PRAYER by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR HIS CAVALIER by ROBERT HERRICK THE MOWER AGAINST GARDENS by ANDREW MARVELL EPITAPH ON THE ADMIRABLE DRAMATIC POET, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by JOHN MILTON |