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(From Ode to Winter)
BUT howling Winter fled afar, | |
| To hills that prop the polar star, | |
| And loves on deer-borne car to ride | |
| With barren darkness by his side, | |
| Round the shore where loud Loffoden | 5 |
| Whirls to death the roaring whale, | |
| Round the hall where Runic Odin | |
| Howls his war-song to the gale; | |
| Save when adown the ravaged globe | |
| He travels on his native storm, | 10 |
| Deflowering Nature’s grassy robe, | |
| And trampling on the faded form; | |
| Till light’s returning lord assume | |
| The shaft that drives him to his polar field, | |
| Of power to pierce his raven plume | 15 |
| And crystal-covered shield. | |
| O sire of storms! whose savage ear | |
| The Lapland drum delights to hear, | |
| When Frenzy with her bloodshot eye | |
| Implores thy dreadful deity; | 20 |
| Archangel! power of desolation! | |
| Fast descending as thou art, | |
| Say, hath mortal invocation | |
| Spells to touch thy stony heart? | |
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