The hour has made transparent mountains of ruddy cloud. Upon the fruitful plain there is no fairer hour. Dissolving topaz clouds let fall a golden shower. The evening wind, pursues, and guides them home again. The setting sun strikes in their flight bright birds, all the birds of the day, and 'tis an ardent and a golden rain glancing across the surge of gently swaying grain. The setting sun and the wind have fused their charms divine, in twilight's crucible colour and scent combine. Far from the dying sun, through depths of stainless air, an Oriental pageant glides. Long, bleeding rubies deck an emperor beneath the balancing of tall, gold parasols. Behind, a mighty people, clothed all in violet pale, sway at the tips of slender golden wands lanterns whereon are limned, in characters of silver, the poppies of sleep. Have you seen the talons of the Night go past? In the wind she also was of gold. . . . And already the birds are sleeping on the plain, the ruddy heads of the grain are bowed in slumber, and the broad moon awakes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE KISS TO THE FLAG by JEAN FRANCOIS VICTOR AICARD ELEGY FOR A DEAD KING by AL-KUTANDI NOONTIDE REST by ANTIPHILUS OF BYZANTIUM WILLIAM COWPER by WILLIAM BLAKE INSPIRATION by GRACE HOLBROOK BLOOD POETS AND POETS by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN ODE: ACME AND SEPTIMUS; OR, LOVE DUET by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS |