The Onset
Always the same, when on a fated night / At last the gathered snow lets down as white
These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
The total sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
And yet not out by any brook or river,
But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods --
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.
Always the same, when on a fated night / At last the gathered snow lets down as white
Spades take up leaves / No better than spoons,
You'll wait a long, long time for anything much / To happen in heaven beyond the floats of cloud
The surest thing there is is we are riders, / And though none too successful at it, guiders,