Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Robert Bridges. b. 1844839. Winter Nightfall
THE day begins to droop,— | |
Its course is done: | |
But nothing tells the place | |
Of the setting sun. | |
The hazy darkness deepens, | 5 |
And up the lane | |
You may hear, but cannot see, | |
The homing wain. | |
An engine pants and hums | |
In the farm hard by: | 10 |
Its lowering smoke is lost | |
In the lowering sky. | |
The soaking branches drip, | |
And all night through | |
The dropping will not cease | 15 |
In the avenue. | |
A tall man there in the house | |
Must keep his chair: | |
He knows he will never again | |
Breathe the spring air: | 20 |
His heart is worn with work; | |
He is giddy and sick | |
If he rise to go as far | |
As the nearest rick: | |
He thinks of his morn of life, | 25 |
His hale, strong years; | |
And braves as he may the night | |
Of darkness and tears. |