A STORMY SUNSET.

Soul of my body! what a death

For such a day of envious gloom,

Unbroken passion of the sky!

As if the pure, kind-hearted breath

Of some soft power, ever nigh,

Had, cleaving in the bitter sheath,

Burst from its grave a gorgeous bloom.

The majesty of clouds that swarm.

Expanding in a furious length

Of molten-metal petals, flows

Unutterable, and where the warm,

Full fire is centered, swims and glows

The evening star fresh-faced with strength,

A shimmering rain-drop of the storm.