Page:Poems Greenwell.djvu/32

The swollen torrents leapt and sprang, and down the flashing rain

Poured in through ghastly rents, while swift, from giant hand to hand,
Like arrows torn from fiery sheaf, the lightning's jagged brand,
Flung careless on from peak to peak, lit up the startled land;

And then a swell, a rush as of broad rivers in their flow,
Ran through it, and the forest shook with rustlings light, and low
Smooth-sweeping winds, till underneath you heard the grasses grow.

And as the stormy waves withdrew,
 Disparting here and there
The flood rolled backward, and to view
 The mountain summits bare
Pierced upwards, till a world swept out
 Green, jubilant, and fair;
Then clear the singer's voice arose
 Upon the freshened air.

He sang an old and simple tale,
 A sad and earnest song,
Of things most frail that did prevail,
 Of weakest things made strong;