A Stormy Sunset

I

Soul of my body! what a death
For such a day of grief and gloom,
Unbroken sorrow of the sky!--
'Tis as if God's own loving breath
Had swept the piled-up thunder by,
And, bursting through the tempest's sheath,
Cleft from its pod a giant bloom.

II

See how the glory grows! unrolled,
Expanding length on radiant length
Of cloud-wrought petals.--Vast, a rose
The western heavens of flame unfold,
Where, sparkling thro' the splendor, glows
The evening star, fresh-faced with strength--
A raindrop in its heart of gold.