home page
pagina iniziale |
by |
|
1824
AFTER A TEMPEST
by William Cullen Bryant
AFTER A TEMPEST -
The day had been a day of wind and storm
The wind was laidthe storm was overpast
And stooping from the zenithbright and warm
Shone the great sun on the wide earth at last.
I stood upon the upland slopeand cast
Mine eye upon a broad and beauteous scene
Where the vast plain lay girt by mountains vast
And hills o'er hills lifted their heads of green
With pleasant vales scooped out and villages between. -
The rain-drops glistened on the trees around
Whose shadows on the tall grass were not stirred
Save when a shower of diamondsto the ground
Was shaken by the flight of startled bird;
For birds were warbling roundand bees were heard
About the flowers; the cheerful rivulet sung
And gossipedas he hastened oceanward;
To the gray oak the squirrel chidingclung
And chirping from the ground the grasshopper upsprung. -
And from beneath the leaves that kept them dry
Flew many a glittering insect here and there
And darted up and down the butterfly
That seemed a living blossom of the air
The flocks came scattering from the thicketwhere
The violent rain had pent them; in the way
Strolled groups of damsels frolicsome and fair;
The farmer swung the scythe or turned the hay
And 'twixt the heavy swaths his children were at play. -
It was a scene of peace- andlike a spell
Did that serene and golden sunlight fall
Upon the motionless wood that clothed the fell
And precipice upspringing like a wall
And glassy river and white waterfall
And happy living things that trod the bright
And beauteous scene; while far beyond them all
On many a lovely valleyout of sight
Was poured from the blue heavens the same soft golden light. -
I lookedand thought the quiet of the scene
An emblem of the peace that yet shall be
When o'er earth's continentsand isles between
The noise of war shall cease from sea to sea
And married nations dwell in harmony;
When millionscrouching in the dust to one
No more shall beg their lives on bended knee
Nor the black stake be dressednor in the sun
The o'erlabored captive toiland wish his life were done. -
Too longat clash of arms amid her bowers
And pools of bloodthe earth has stood aghast
The fair earththat should only blush with flowers
And ruddy limits; but not for aye can last
The stormand sweet the sunshine when 'tis past.
Lothe clouds roll away- they break- they fly
Andlike the glorious light of summercast
O'er the wide landscape from the embracing sky
On all the peaceful world the smile of heaven shall lie. - -
THE END