THE red sun stared unwinking at the East Then slept under a cloak of hodden gray; The rimy fields held the last light of day, A little tender yet. And I remember How black against the pale and wintry West Stood the confused great army of old trees, Topping that lean, enormous-shouldered hill With crossing lances shivering and then still. I looked as one that sees Queens passing by and lovelier than he dreamed, With fringe of silver light following their feet, And all those lances vail'd, and solemn Knights Watching their Queens as with eyes grave and sweet They left for the gray fields those airy heights. Nothing had lovelier seemed— Not April's noise nor the early dew of June, Nor the calm languid cow - eyed Autumn Moon, Nor ruffling woods the greenest I remember— Than this pale light and dark of cold December. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CANDLE INDOORS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS A CONSISTENT GIRL by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS VILLANELLE: AU RETOUR DU PRINTEMPS by PHILIP SCHUYLER ALLEN EUMARES by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS SONNET: 7 by RICHARD BARNFIELD THE GOOD COUNSEL by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |