The early winter dusk comes down With chilling rain and whimpering gust, And this that was a friendly town Is changed to shadows and distrust. What though behind the pines and oaks Wait hearts and hearths that conquer gloom? The trees within their misty cloaks Seem graybeards prophesying doom! Yet suddenly a yellow light Goes dancing through the drip and haze As if a star had left its height To free these night-beleaguered ways! And see how many a golden lamp From windows lost in dusk and dream Sends forth across the murk and damp Its answer to the rallying gleam! Say not: "Prometheus is bound!" But ask this youth of Tuscan name Who bears his torch upon its round From what far sun he stole his flame! For though no god in him you mark He is of Titan blood no less Who hurls against the hostile dark A thousand spears of friendliness! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE COMING OF SNOW by HAYDEN CARRUTH IN A CUBAN GARDEN by SARA TEASDALE IN THE WILDERNESS by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES DISCONTENTS IN DEVON by ROBERT HERRICK ALASTOR; OR, THE SPIRIT OF SOLITUDE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY BISHOP BRUNO by ROBERT SOUTHEY |