The lakes of ice gleam bluer than the lakes
Of water 'neath the summer sunshine gleamed:
Far fairer than when placidly it streamed,
The brook its frozen architecture makes,
And under bridges white its swift way takes.
Snow comes and goes as messenger who dreamed
Might linger on the road; or one who deemed
His message hostile gently for their sakes
Who listened might reveal it by degrees.
We gird against the cold of winter wind
Our loins now with mighty bands of sleep,
In longest, darkest nights take rest and ease,
And every shortening day, as shadows creep
O'er the brief noontide, fresh surprises find.
A meaningful sonnet on winter and it's manifestations in the form of snow clad mountains and frozen brooks and darkest as also long nights during the month of december. Thanks for sharing,
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
There is something about Helen Hunt Jackson that draws me to her poetry. I think it is her soul- she respects life, she watches the days pass with a kindly but intelligent eye, and I think she was a friend to all who crossed her threshhold.. Just look at the warmth and purity of these lines- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ] We gird against the cold of winter wind Our loins now with mighty bands of sleep, In longest, darkest nights take rest and ease, And every shortening day, as shadows creep O'er the brief noontide, fresh surprises find.