AGAINST THE COLD PALE SKY

Against the cold pale sky

The elm tree company rose high.

All the fine hues of day

That flowered so bold had died away.

Only chill blue, faint green,

And deepening dark blue were seen.

There swinging on a bough

That hung or floated broad and low.

The lamp of evening, bright

With more than planetary light,

Was beautiful and free —

A white bird swaying on the tree.

You watched and I watched,

Our eyes and hearts so surely matched.

We saw the white bird leap, leap

Shining in his journey steep

Through that vast cold sky.

Our hearts knew his unuttered cry —

A cry of free delight

Spreading over the clustering night.

Pole Hill grave and stark

Stared at the valley's tidal dark,

The Darent glimmered wan;

But that eager planet winging on,

And singing on, went high

Into the deeps and heights of sky.

And our thoughts rising too

Brightened the mortal darkness through

Trembled and danced and sang

Till the mute invisible heavens rang.