Snow

The fading forests grow

The wind dies out along the height

And denser still the snow

A gathering weight on roof and tree

Falls down scarce audibly

The meadows and far-sheeted streams

Lie still without a sound

Like some soft minister of dreams

The snow-fall hoods me round

In wood and water earth and air

A silence everywhere

Save when at lonely intervals

Some farmer's sleigh urged on

With rustling runners and sharp bells

Swings by me and is gone

Or from the empty waste I hear

A sound remote and clear

The barking of a dog or call

To cattle sharply pealed

Borne echoing from some wayside stall

Or barnyard far afield

Then all is silent and the snow falls

Settling soft and slow

The evening deepens and the grey

Folds closer earth and sky

The world seems shrouded far away

Its noises sleep and I as secret as

Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream

And dream

And dream

And dream