Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE STORM, by EDWARD BLISS REED


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE STORM, by                    
First Line: The sun sank in a sheer abyss of cloud
Last Line: Upon the fallen tree, shout as they play.
Subject(s): Lightning; Sea Voyages; Storms; Weather; Wind; Lightning Rods


The sun sank in a sheer abyss of cloud,
While long and loud,
A prelude to the fight, the ocean roared.
Beneath a pall of black
The stealthy storm lay plotting its attack,
Then on the earth its sudden wrath outpoured.
After the driving rain
Fierce rushed the hurricane.
From roof-tree to the sill
The cottage trembled when with desperate shout
And brutal challenge, putting hope to rout,
The pitiless wind charged wildly up the hill.

The trees that dared resist uprooted lay
A helpless prey;
And one, the last of all his kingly race,
A tall, broad-bodied oak,
Fell shattered to the heart. The lightning's stroke
Through a cleft side drove deep its deadly trace.
With the next peal there came
A sudden burst of flame:
The barn, in blazing light,
Crashed to the earth, then sputtered in the dark,
A smouldering ruin, an abandoned mark,
Shattered by the artillery of night.

Within the home the children called in fear,
They could not hear
The words of comfort that the mother spoke.
Waked from a faery dream
They shook in terror at each startling gleam,
Stunned by the bolt that felled their dear-loved oak.
At this dark, evil hour
Her voice lost its calm power
To drive night-fears away,
And hush the sobs, for still she must repeat
"Sleep, rest and sleep, then soon your little feet
Will dance with joy in the warm, peaceful day."

The winds swept past; the rain ceased; with the morn
The earth, new-born,
Glittered and sparkled. In a dazzling green
Shone every hill and tree,
And this day's miracle, far out at sea
Lay wooded islands we had never seen.
White cliffs, blue waves requite
The terrors of the night.
Forgotten, with the day,
The crashing thunder and the lightning's glare.
The birds are singing; happy children there
Upon the fallen tree, shout as they play.





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