CLOUDS.

All through the tepid Summer night

The starless sky had poured a cool

Monotony of pleasant rain

In music beautiful.

And for an hour I'd sat to watch

Clouds moving on majestic feet,

Had heard down avenues of night

Their hearts of thunder beat;

Saw ponderous limbs far-veined with gold

Pulse fiery life o'er wood and plain,

While scattered, fell from monstrous palms

The largess of the rain;

Beholding at each lightning's flash

The generous silver on the sod,

In meek devotion bowed, I thanked

These almoners of God.