ALL night, beneath the flashing hosts of stars, The North poured forth the passion of its soul In mighty longings for the tawny South, Sleeping afar among her orange-blooms. All night, through the deep canon's organ-pipes, Swept down the grand orchestral harmonies Tumultuous, till the hills' rock buttresses Trembled in unison. The sun has risen, But still the storming sea of air beats on, And o'er the broad green slopes a flood of light Comes streaming through the heavens like a wind, Till every leaf and twig becomes a lyre And thrills with vibrant splendor. Down the bay The furrowed blue, save that 't is starred with foam, Is bare and empty as the sky of clouds; For all the little sails, that yesterday Flocked past the islands, now have furled their wings, And huddled frightened at the wharves -- just as, A moment since, a flock of twittering birds Whirled through the almond-trees like scattered leaves, And hid beyond the hedge. How the old oaks Stand stiffly to it, and wrestle with the storm! While the tall eucalyptus' plumy tops Tumble and toss and stream with quivering light. Hark! when it lulls a moment at the ear, The fir-trees sing their sea-song: -- now again The roar is all about us like a flood; And like a flood the fierce light shines, and burns Away all distance, till the far blue ridge, That rims the ocean, rises close at hand, And high, Prometheus-like, great Tamalpais Lifts proudly his grand front, and bears his scar, Heaven's scath of wrath, defiant like a god. I thank thee, glorious wind! Thou bringest me Something that breathes of mountain crags and pines, Yea, more -- from the unsullied, farthest North, Where crashing icebergs jar like thunder shocks, And midnight splendors wave and fade and flame, Thou bring'st a keen, fierce joy. So wilt thou help The soul to rise in strength, as some great wave Leaps forth, and shouts, and lifts the ocean-foam, And rides exultant round the shining world. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOE HILL LISTENS TO THE PRAYING by KENNETH PATCHEN SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 4 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE SHEPHERD BOY'S SONG, FR. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS by JOHN BUNYAN CHARLESTON by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE THE DRUM: THE NARRATIVE OF THE DEMON OF TEDWORTH by EDITH SITWELL ENIGMA. TO THE LADIES by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD NO HEIGHTS by NELLIE GRAY BOURDEAUX ON THE LOSS OF PROFESSOR FISHER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |