| |
| RAIN in the glimmering street— | |
| Murmurous, rhythmical beat; | |
| Shadows that flicker and fly; | |
| Blue of wet road, of wet sky, | |
| (Grey in the depths and the heights); | 5 |
| Orange of numberless lights, | |
| Shapes fleeting on, going by. | |
| |
| Figures, fantastical, grim— | |
| Figures, prosaical, tame, | |
| Each with chameleon-stain, | 10 |
| Dun in the crepuscle dim, | |
| Red in the nimbus of flame— | |
| Glance through the veil of the rain. | |
| Rain in the measureless street— | |
| Vistas of orange and blue; | 15 |
| Music of echoing feet, | |
| Pausing, and pacing anew. | |
| |
| Rain, and the clamour of wheels, | |
| Splendour, and shadow, and sound; | |
| Coloured confusion that reels | 20 |
| Lost in the twilight around. * * * * * | |
| When I lie hid from the light, | |
| Stark, with the turf overhead, | |
| Still, on a rainy Spring night, | |
| I shall come back from the dead. | 25 |
| |
| Turn then and look for me here | |
| Stealing the shadows along; | |
| Look for me—I shall be near, | |
| Deep in the heart of the throng: | |
| Here, where the current runs rife, | 30 |
| Careless, and doleful, and gay, | |
| Moving, and motley, and strong, | |
| Good in its sport, in its strife. * * * * * | |
| Ah, might I be—might I stay— | |
| Only for ever and aye, | 35 |
| Living and looking on life! | |
| |
