Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830-1886). VIII. "An hour agone!--and prostrate Nature lay." Hunt and Lee, comps. 1867. The Book of the Sonnet

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

VIII. “An hour agone!—and prostrate Nature lay”

By Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830–1886)


AN HOUR agone!—and prostrate Nature lay
Like some sore-smitten creature nigh to death,
With feverish, parchéd lips, with laboring breath,
And languid eyeballs, darkening to the day;
A burning NOONTIDE ruled with merciless sway	5
Earth, wave, and air; the ghastly-stretching heath,
The sullen trees, the fainting flowers beneath,
Drooped hopeless, shrivelling in the torrid ray;—
When, like a sudden, cheerful trumpet, blown
Far off by rescuing spirits, rose the wind	10
Urging great hosts of clouds; the thunder’s tone
Breaks into wrath; the rainy cataracts fall;
But, pausing soon, behold Creation shrined
In a new birth,—God’s Covenant clasping all!