A Contrast
Once, in an old and lonely
Farm-house by the sea,
I went to rest with only
Myself for company.
No star the darkness brightened;
A-low the welkin bowed;
It blew, it rained, it lightened,
It thundered long and loud.
The tempest drove the billows
Upon the rocky shore,
And, nestled in my pillows,
I heard them plunge and roar.
The windows creaked and rattled,
The chimney puffed and moaned,
The stout old elms, that battled
Out in the court-yard, groaned.
I dozed while yet I listened;
And lo! the next I knew,
The golden sunshine glistened,
And everything was new.
The cock was crowing clearly,
Cluck-clucked the happy hen,
The robin caroled cheerly,
And sweetly chirped the wren.
I rose with glad emotion
And up the window threw;
Before me heaved the ocean
Its sparkling waters blue.
The skies were soft and tender;
And lovely to be seen.
Impearled with dewy splendor,
The land lay fresh and green.
I breathed an air Elysian;
I thrilled with pure delight;
And nothing but a vision
Seemed that black yester-night.
by Thomas Durfee
Thomas Durfee was born on 6 February 1826 in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island, United States of America. He became a poet and a chief justice of Rhode Island (1875 - 1891). His published works include “The Village Picnic and Other Poems” (1872). Thomas Durfee passed on at 75 years of age on 6 June 1901 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Once, in an old and lonely
Farm-house by the sea,
I went to rest with only
Myself for company.
No star the darkness brightened;
A-low the welkin bowed;
It blew, it rained, it lightened,
It thundered long and loud.
The tempest drove the billows
Upon the rocky shore,
And, nestled in my pillows,
I heard them plunge and roar.
The windows creaked and rattled,
The chimney puffed and moaned,
The stout old elms, that battled
Out in the court-yard, groaned.
I dozed while yet I listened;
And lo! the next I knew,
The golden sunshine glistened,
And everything was new.
The cock was crowing clearly,
Cluck-clucked the happy hen,
The robin caroled cheerly,
And sweetly chirped the wren.
I rose with glad emotion
And up the window threw;
Before me heaved the ocean
Its sparkling waters blue.
The skies were soft and tender;
And lovely to be seen.
Impearled with dewy splendor,
The land lay fresh and green.
I breathed an air Elysian;
I thrilled with pure delight;
And nothing but a vision
Seemed that black yester-night.
by Thomas Durfee
Thomas Durfee was born on 6 February 1826 in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island, United States of America. He became a poet and a chief justice of Rhode Island (1875 - 1891). His published works include “The Village Picnic and Other Poems” (1872). Thomas Durfee passed on at 75 years of age on 6 June 1901 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States of America.
