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.