"Song of the Storm-Swept Plain" by William D. Hodjkiss

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend Support Poem-a-Day November 17, 2019   Song of the Storm-Swept Plain   William D. Hodjkiss

The wind shrills forth  From the white cold North  Where the gates of the Storm-god are;  And ragged clouds,  Like mantling shrouds, Engulf the last, dim star.    Through naked trees,  In low coulees,  The night-voice moans and sighs;  And sings of deep,  Warm cradled sleep,  With wind-crooned lullabies.    He stands alone  Where the storm's weird tone In mocking swells;  And the snow-sharp breath  Of cruel Death  The tales of its coming tells.    The frightened plaint Of his sheep sound faint Then the choking wall of white— Then is heard no more,  In the deep-toned roar,  Of the blinding, pathless night.    No light nor guide, Save a mighty tide Of mad fear drives him on; 'Till his cold-numbed form  Grows strangely warm; And the strength of his limbs is gone.    Through the storm and night A strange, soft light  O'er the sleeping shepherd gleams; And he hears the word  Of the Shepherd Lord  Called out from the bourne of dreams.    Come, leave the strife  Of your weary life; Come unto Me and rest  From the night and cold,  To the sheltered fold, By the hand of love caressed.    The storm shrieks on, But its work is done— A soul to its God has fled; And the wild refrain  Of the wind-swept plain,  Sings requiem for the dead.            This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on November 17, 2019, by the Academy of American Poets. About this Poem   "Song of the Storm-Swept Plain" was originally published in Indian School Journal in March, 1913.    William D. Hodjkiss was born around 1845. He worked as a clerk at Cheyenne and Arapahoe and Quapaw Agencies. "On Death" by Kahlil Gibran "Like Any Messiah Taken Unaware by Death" by Aisha al-Saifi "The Origin of Birds" by Nicole Callihan November Guest Editor: Sherwin Bitsui   Thanks to Sherwin Bitsui, author of Dissolve (Copper Canyon Press, 2018), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month's weekdays. Read a Q&A with Bitsui about his curatorial approach this month and find out more about our guest editors for the year. A culture break, a source of daily renewal...   If reading Poem-a-Day has become a meaningful part of your day, please consider supporting this free series with a donation. Your gift makes publishing Poem-a-Day possible. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit poets.org   Unsubscribe here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038

From Our Sponsors