RAIN.

Around, the stillness deepened; then the grain

Went wild with wind; and every briery lane

Was swept with dust; and then, tempestuous black,

Hillward the tempest heaved a monster back,

That on the thunder leaned as on a cane;

And on huge shoulders bore a cloudy pack,

That gullied gold from many a lightning-crack:

One great drop splashed and wrinkled down the pane,

And then field, hill, and wood were lost in rain.

At last, through clouds,— as from a cavern hewn

Into night's heart,— the sun burst, angry roon;

And every cedar, with its weight of wet,

Against the sunset's fiery splendour set,

Frightened to beauty, seemed with rubies strewn;

Then in drenched gardens, like sweet phantoms met,

Dim odours rose of pink and mignonette;

And in the East a confidence, that soon

Grew to the calm assurance of the Moon.