Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WINTER FANCIES, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WINTER FANCIES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Winter without / and warmth within
Last Line: In the heart of a nut!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Nature; Wind; Winter


I

Winter without
And warmth within;
The winds may shout
And the storm begin;
The snows may pack
At the window-pane,
And the skies grow black,
And the sun remain
Hidden away
The livelong day -
But here - in here is the warmth of May!

II

Swoop your spitefullest
Up the flue,
Wild Winds - do!
What in the world do I care for you?
O delightfullest
Weather of all,
Howl and squall,
And shake the trees till the last leaves fall!

III

The joy one feels,
In an easy-chair,
Cocking his heels
In the dancing air
That wreathes the rim of a roaring stove
Whose heat loves better than hearts can love,
Will not permit
The coldest day
To drive away
The fire in his blood, and the bliss of it!

IV

Then blow, Winds blow!
And rave and shriek,
And snarl and snow,
Till your breath grows weak --
While here in my room
I'm as snugly shut
As a glad little worm
In the heart of a nut!





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