Poems (Argent)/The Challenge
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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.
Of frost and snow,
A range of mountains that have caught
The moon's soft glow.
A night of stars—a starry night
Reflected shines
Within the bosom of the lake,
Where fallen pines
Reflected shines
Within 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.
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!
Stands by the stream,
With antlered head, all ghost-like, as
A phantom dream!
And dripping fast with water-drops
He waits to meet
A rival stag, who parts the stream
With rapid feet.
He waits to meet
A 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 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.
Artistic thought;
The artist has the poetry
Of action caught.
The graceful attitude of stag,
His shadow slim
Lying athwart the crested snow
All dark and dim;
His shadow slim
Lying 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,
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!
Who loved his art,
Who put a soul in all he wrought
And poet's heart!