Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/A Winter's Night
A WINTER'S NIGHT
It is a cold star-gleaming Winter's night—All things are ice-bound like the frozen mill—The great white moon comes stalking o'er the hillAnd floods the scene with cold unearthly light;The leafless trees are hung with jewels brightAnd every twig is set with magic skillAnd fringed with frost that speaks the winter's chill;The darkling pines are robed in spotless white,Their loaded branches nod like warriors' plumesAnd cast their shadows in the forest's glooms;Far in the wood with melancholy moanThe wind awakes its cheerless monotoneThen dies away and all is cold and still.