Winter in Northumberland (Extract) - Algeron Charles Swinburne

Winter in Northumberland (Extract) - Algeron Charles Swinburne
An extract from Winter In Northumberland
By Algernon Charles Swinburne
Outside the garden
The wet skies harden
The gates are barred on
The summer side
Shut out the flower-time
Sunbeam and shower-time
Make way for our time
Wild winds have cried
Green once and cheery
The woods
Worn weary
Sigh as the dreary
Weak sun goes home
A great wind grapples
The wave
And dapples
The dead green floor of the sea with foam
Draw the white curtain
Close
And be certain
She takes no hurt in
Her soft low bed
She feels no colder
And grows not older
Though snows enfold her
From foot to head
She turns not chilly
Like w**d and lily
In marsh or hilly
High watershed
Or green soft island
In lakes of highland
She sleeps awhile
And she is not dead
O stout Northeaster
Sea-king land-waster
For all thine haste or
Thy stormy skill
Yet hadst thou never
For all endeavour
Strength to dissever
Or strength to spill
Save of his giving
Who gave our living
Whose hands are weaving
What ours fulfill
Whose feet tread under
The storms and thunder
Who made our wonder to work his will
His years and hours
His world's blind powers
His stars and flowers
His nights and days
Sea tide and river
And waves that shiver
Praise God the giver
Of tongues to praise
Winds in their blowing
And fruits in growing
Time in its going
While time shall be
In death and living
With one thanksgiving
Praise him whose hand is the strength of the sea