ACROSS the sky, across the snow, The sober rooks are winging slow, Grey roses in the rush-fringed pool, And Winter trees are beautiful. The West is now a garden-close, Pink roses and a golden rose, With amber and with tender green, To let the throbbing stars between. Against that world of roses stand— These are the woods of Fairyland— Poplar and oak and elm to make A gold brake and a rosy brake. Instead of silky leaves of Spring The stars now make their garnishing; For May roses and April white The snow has lit them all the night. The red sun hangs his lantern red Between the black boughs overhead, The evening clothes them with his mist Half sapphire and half amethyst. The dawn roses are scattered here As 'twere a rose espalier Whose happy boughs have borne for fruit Red roses all from head to foot. Even the lamp that men have set To light the way for travelling feet Caught in the dark tree glitters bright As chrysoprase and chrysolite. Down the long road's perspective go The dark trees in a double row, Spangled with lamplight, gold and cool; And Winter trees are beautiful. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NOT BY THE SEA by SARA TEASDALE THE COUNTRY FAITH by NORMAN ROWLAND GALE THE BATTLE OF CHARLESTON HARBOR by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE THE PRIESTHOOD by GEORGE HERBERT MEMORY OF THE IRISH DEAD by JOHN KELLS INGRAM THE BIGLOW PAPERS: 3. WHAT MR. ROBINSON THINKS by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL REFUGE by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. SONGS OF NIGHT TO MORNING: 3 by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 7. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |