LONG time across my path had lain A far-off bar like gathering rain; The sunshine beamed along my way, But this drew nearer day by day. I walked amid a laughing throng, I plucked the flowers, I sang my song; But all the time my load of care, My bar of threatening cloud, was there. Some day, I knew, that bar must break In tempest, fatal for my sake; And in my heart of hearts I laid My secret, and was sore afraid. And yet it caught me by surprise; Loud thunders pealed across the skies; Ere I had time for craven fear The hour had struck. The end was near. With lips and lids set hard together I sank upon the springy heather; I said farewell to pleasant things, And waited for the angel's wings. When, oh! the marvel! through the rain Came odours exquisite as pain; A softer warmth, like lovers' breath, Danced on my cheek instead of Death. The birds around me sang in choirs; My eyes unclosed to clearer fires; The storm was only sent to purge Of cloud my sky from verge to verge! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GETTING A PURCHASE by KAREN SWENSON ROAST LEVIATHAN by LOUIS UNTERMEYER AT DOVER CLIFFS, JULY 20, 1787 by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES THE SMACK IN SCHOOL by WILLIAM PITT PALMER LOVE'S CHANGE by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH THE NEW WORLD; TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES by LAURENCE BINYON |