Poems (Argent)/The Challenge
THE CHALLENGE.
(Suggested by Sir Edwin Landseer's famous picture.)
A BEAUTEOUS scene and winter sketch Of frost and snow,A range of mountains that have caught The moon's soft glow.
A night of stars—a starry night Reflected shinesWithin the bosom of the lake, Where fallen pines
Lie at the marge, crushed by the snow Of sparkling gems,That glitter in the silvery light As diadems.
A glorious monarch of the glen Stands by the stream,With antlered head, all ghost-like, as A phantom dream!
And dripping fast with water-drops He waits to meetA rival stag, who parts the stream With rapid feet.
He gives a challenge loud and long, A shrill, harsh cry,That breaks upon the frozen air And frozen sky!
A lovely picture! charming all Artistic thought;The artist has the poetry Of action caught.
The graceful attitude of stag, His shadow slimLying athwart the crested snow All dark and dim;
The fallen trees beside the marge, And mountains high,Bathed in a shimmering whiteness from The moon-lit sky,
Are perfectly pourtrayed by one Who loved his art,Who put a soul in all he wrought And poet's heart!