Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-11
Miscellany.
Winter.

Blue-green nrs waver in a water wan,
Save where red boles and robes unmoyed and dim
Show the keen wizard Frost prevails upon
Even rivers low clink bewrays Il slim
Bird who hath lighted on the marge to drink.
Aerial webs invisible, that link
sere russet fern with glumes Of yellow grass,
And green hr-needles, pApablo star-chains
| OF fairy jewels; from furze points they pafs;
| Every dark-green lance OF broom sustains
Like burden all are fedged with crystal soft,
Mist frozen in plumuiets; many a taper tuft
Adorns the wine-stained bramble, and the blade,
And bronzy twigs of trees bereft Of shade.
Brakes white with FROST and orange reeds fair,
Beneath yOn sombre masses Of cold frs,
stream-mirrored, while silver birch's hair
Hangs, like dark smoke, AthwArt the laden air.
Winter upon small mArish pools confers,
As on our panes, with palms aud wreaths of hers,
A delicate star-hower beauty, rivalling
All fragile water-petals Of sweet Spring;
sparkles wine-dark ferruginous fens and ling,
Desolate lowands where the bittern booms.
Aud now at nightfal, from where forest looms,
A dragon train walls 'thwart the solitude
FlAme-breAthing, with long self-luminous brood,
And livid, long, low steam among gray slooms.
Snow fIl!s-hAth faen-all the land is white.
Pure snow elings frozen to labyrinths Of trees:
They in a narrow lane aloft unite;
Winter hath clothed with pure foliage these,
Plying them, bereft Of Springs delight.
How fAiry-like their veled pale silences!
Feathery shadows gray mist informing
with beauty, As frail eorAllinSs dim
Some alien planet our Garth seems to be!
Earth lies fair in her shroud and Slumbercth;
80 fair the pure white silence Of dim death!
Lol the suns Aeeting phantom family warming
Mists into heavens blue, while they flush and Zee:
Budding birch-sprays hang laughing JewelTy
OF opal ice Athvart the lift that clelrB;
Clinking 1t falls, or mslts in jutiant tears.
GAyly snow Houness eArthward in the sun,
Or frozen glisters with icy edgo
To windward Of the elmbole; birds In dun
Plumage, fsir-formed elves, whistle in the hedge,
Scatter Its Grmine mantle: as they run,
Dint earths blihe stainless carpet; shake the foam
splAshed upon all green brAmbleS, and red-fruited
Holits, or thorns, or briArs, where they poam;
Our ever sweet.songed robin richly suited,
And birds reserving for leader home
And lovelier lands the voice wherein love luted,
LItNnllt III yOu utAu hlAuONb Dlue
Nestle where beast or man hath trodden deep
In crisp starred snow; fur msntles fair enduo
rhAtehed roof, wain barn. and byre GnI slowly creep
To fringe Of diamond icice; the waters asleep.
No skaters whirr aud vhrl, erst upon the impris
oned gray
Smooth water; no chutby children slide and shout
and play.
Pile the illumining logo whin and let thom eraeile
Gayl
Bright holly and green misietoe cheering heArhs
keep:
Warm Cn the polished chairs and glasses while yulC
fires glow deep.
But when dear babes lie dreaming, with halo near
the moon,
And at their nursery doors are small fary-Appeal
ing shoon,
There will hoat voice Of mystic bells over eArth's
rale swound,
And sweet sHd fays Of memory to haunt us in their
soundl tRoden Noel in Good Words.