AWinterNight

awinternight

poornakedwretches,wheresoe'eryouare,

thatbidethepeltingofthispitilessstorm!

howshallyourhouselessheads,andunfedsides,

yourloop'dandwindow'dedness,defendyou

fromseasonssuchasthese?—shakespeare.

whenbitingboreas,fellanddour,

sharpshiversthro'theleaflessbow'r;

whenphoebusgiesashort-liv'dglow'r,

farsouththelift,

dim-dark'ningthro'theflakyshow'r,

orwhirlingdrift:

aenightthestormthesteeplesrocked,

poorlaboursweetinsleepwaslocked,

whileburns,wi'snawywreathsup-choked,

wild-eddyingswirl;

or,thro'theminingoutletbocked,

downheadlonghurl:

list'ningthedoorsan'winnocksrattle,

ithoughtmeontheouriecattle,

orsillysheep,whabidethisbrattle

o'winterwar,

andthro'thedrift,deep-lairing,sprattle

beneathascar.

ilkhappingbird,—wee,helplessthing!

that,inthemerrymonthso'spring,

delightedmetoheartheesing,

whatcomeso'thee?

wharewiltthoucow'rthychitteringwing,

an'closethye'e?

ev'nyou,onmurderingerrandstoil'd,

lonefromyoursavagehomesexil'd,

theblood-stain'droost,andsheep-cotespoil'd

myheartforgets,

whilepitylessthetempestwild

soreonyoubeats!

nowphoebeinhermidnightreign,

dark-muff'd,view'dthedrearyplain;

stillcrowdingthoughts,apensivetrain,

roseinmysoul,

whenonmyearthisplantivestrain,

slow,solemn,stole:—

“blow,blow,yewinds,withheaviergust!

andfreeze,thoubitter-bitingfrost!

descend,yechilly,smotheringsnows!

notallyourrage,asnowunited,shows

morehardunkindnessunrelenting,

vengefulmaliceunrepenting.

thanheaven-illumin'dmanonbrothermanbestows!

“seesternoppression'sirongrip,