Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SUNSET AFTER RAIN, by ELIZA L. SPROAT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SUNSET AFTER RAIN, by                    
First Line: Oh, cheerless, sunless day! The maudlin clouds
Last Line: Stands in the presence of the universe.


OH, cheerless, sunless day! The maudlin clouds
Have wept and wept; the wind, with ceaseless whine,
Has wandered through the rain; now stooping low
To plague the sullen stream; now whirling high,
And diving down some chimney, where the dame
Strove vainly for a cheerful evening fire,
Fighting the smoke into her patient face;
Now skimming earth so swift, that the long grass
Grew shrill with pain, now blustering past the flowers,
And through the angry corn; now to the stream,
Making the willows sulk, and flounce, and trail
Their wet arms on the ground; now, scorning earth,
He's up to fight the clouds. Good wind, sweet wind,
Battle them sore, -- scatter the enemy,
That we may bid good-even to the sun,
And bless his journey. Joy! The weary foes
Have raised the siege, and now, dispersing slow,
They melt before the sun. The mighty trees
Doff their dark haughtiness, and stand ablaze
Thrilled by the rich free light, that suddenly
Enclasping, sets each separate soft green leaf
Quivering with life; till, with majestic joy,
They fling on high their bold ambitious arms,
In hope to touch the skies that seem so near.
The loving clouds bend downward from the blue,
And form, and melt, and break like hills of foam,
Paling to silver; blushing back to rose;
Gathering in mountains of rich purple glooms;
Deepening to awful caverns and strange chasms;
Then breaking, softening, melting, till the sky
Grows dark, and deep, and clear, and a keen eye
Can almost reach to heaven, whence stepping forth
With their fresh glory on them, one by one
The great stars take their places; and poor Earth
Stands in the presence of the Universe.





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