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NORTH WIND.
- LOUD wind, strong wind, sweeping o’er the mountains,
- Fresh wind, free wind, blowing from the sea,
- Pour forth thy vials like streams from airy fountains,
- Draughts of life to me.
- Clear wind, cold wind, like a Northern giant,
- Stars brightly threading thy cloud‐driven hair,
- Thrilling the blank night with thy voice defiant,
- Lo! I meet thee there.
- Wild wind, bold wind, like a strong‐armed angel,
- Clasp me and kiss me with thy kisses divine;
- Breathe in this dulled ear thy secret sweet evangel—
- Mine—and only mine.
- Fierce wind, mad wind, howling o’er the nations,
- Knew’st thou how leapeth my heart as thou goest by:
- Ah, thou wouldst pause awhile in a sudden patience
- Like a human sigh.
- Sharp wind, keen wind, cutting as word‐arrows,
- Empty thy quiverful! pass by! What is’t to thee,
- That in some mortal eyes life’s whole bright circle narrows,
- To one misery?
- Loud wind, strong wind, stay thou in the mountains,
- Fresh wind, free wind, trouble not the sea.
- Or lay thy deathly hand upon my heart’s warm fountains,
- That I hear not thee.
