Welcome To Winter

NOW, with wild and windy roar, Stalwart Winter comes once more,- O'er our roof-tree thunders loud, And from edges of black cloud Shakes his beard of hoary gold, Like a tangled torrent rolled Down the sky-rifts, clear and cold! Hark! his trumpet summons rings, Potent as a warrior-king's, Till the forces of our blood Rise to lusty hardihood, And our summer's languid dreams Melt, like foam-wreaths, down the streams, When the fierce northeasters roll, Raving from the frozen pole. Nobler hopes and keener life, Quicken in his breath of strife; Through the snow-storms and the sleet On he stalks with arm