Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-17
seIetttS 4oetrp.
A RAIN DIRE A nj
ay WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.

.,-i,as these tumults of the noisy world.
'-. rand the coward, tracks his prey by stealth.
's...ngtb the rufian, glories in his guilt,
-. me heart with sadness. On, my friend,
NJ .t,, .erener mood We look upon
.I,oniest aspects of the elements
.,s wood, and fields! Let US awhile,
y '-,,S .,s ,low wind is rolling up the storm,
f. s,,r leave this maze of dusty streets,
Y ..,sr shaken by the importunate jar
,,.,rr,erce. and upon the darkening air
n, =, from the shelter of our rural home.
~, 4. not awed that listens to the Rain,
#, Ain, his voice before him? Mighty Rain!
0 :. inland sleeps are shrouded by thy mists
II :. .ysles are gloomy with thy shade the pools
r,,,ger plimmer, and the silvery streams
NJ ,,,,1 to veins of lead at thy approach,
,i,b,y Rain! already thou art here;
n "A srerv roof j, beaten by thy streams,
,is. thou passest, every CLASSY spring
.,r. rough. and every leaf in all the woods
..-,.s ( and quiyers. All the hill-tops slske
~, thirst from thee thousand languishing fields,
\. IN sand lauting gardens are refreshed;
a.9,ani idle rivuets start 10 speed,
!, +, rtb the graver murnUr Of the storm
s;,jtaeir light voices as they hurry on.
Tso1 ell st the circle Of the atmosphere,
,,s there is no living thing abroad,
v bird to wing the air, no beast to walk
n fe!i; e squirrel in he forest seeks
hollow tree the marmot of the field
n s.ampered 70 his den the butterfly
|ria, under her broad leaf F.; the insect crowds
b, make the sunshine populous, lie close
II their mysterious shelters, whence the sun
summon them again. Tie mighty Rain
L is the vast empire of the SKY alone.
,agt nv eyes and zee, as in dream,
b. friendly clouds drop down spring violets
lad summer columbines and all the flowers
rs,. tut the woodland floor, or overarch
b. streamlet ;--spiky grass for genial June,
EaFa harvests for the waiting husbandman,
..i for the woods a deuge Of fresh leaves.
see the myriad drops that slake the dust,
ll,lared in the glorious streams, or rolling blue
!. tlows on the lake or on the deep,
And bearing navies. behold them change
Z threads Of crystal as they sink in earth,
.ll leave It's stains behind to rise again
! pleasant hooks Of verdure, where the child,
Thirsty with play, in both his little hands
S.sl take the cool, clear water, raising it
Tavs bis pretty lips. Tomorrow noon
!! proudly will the water-lily ride
l-e trimming pool, oerlooking like queen,
De, circles Of broad leaves. In lonely wastes,
6ls1 next the sunshine makes them beautiful,
Gay troops Of butterflies shall light to drink
:; tie repsnsAed hoI.ows OF the rock.
Now slowly falls the dull blank night, and still.
a though the atarles, hours, the mighty Rain
Sl;e' with perpetual sound the forest leaves,
4l! beats the matted grass, and still the earth
.all' the an,tnted bounty Of the clouds;
-1li' for her cottage wells, her woodland brooks
.a-as for the sprinsing trout, tue toiling bee,
l-l orooding bird drinks for her tender flowers,
Ia oaks, and all tae herbage OF her hills.
Aneiancholy sound is in the air,
deep sigh in the distance, a shrill wall
A9'1i my dwelling. 'Tis the wind of night;
4@le.y wanderer between earth and cloud,
ID The tlack shadow and the chilly mist,
A.ls the streaming mountain side, and through
.- Gripping woods and DER the plashy fields,
Sllag AMI sorrowing still, like one who makes
.ae journey Of life alone, aud nowhere meets
Welcome or friend, and still goes on
= ll'kness. Yet awhile, little while,
A'a De shall toss the gltterng leaves in play,
I'D daily With the flowers, and gaily lift
III slender herbs pressed low by weight Of rain,
40 d'ive in joyous triumph, through the sky,
'.''e clouds, the laggard remnants of the storm.