Leonora Speyer

IT swoops gray-winged across the obliterated hills,

And the startled lake seems to run before it:

From the wood comes a clamor of leaves,

Tugging at the twigs,

Pouring from the branches,

And suddenly the birds are silent.

Thunder crumples the sky,

Lightning tears at it.

And now the rain—

The rain, thudding, implacable;

The wind, revelling in the confusion of great pines!

And a silver sifting of light,

A coolness:

A sense of summer anger passing,

Of summer gentleness creeping nearer—

Penitent, tearful,

Forgiven.