White are the far-off plains,
and white the fading forests grow.
The wind dies out along the height
and denser still the snow,
a gathering weight on roof and tree
falls down scarce audibly.
Meadows and far-sheeted streams
lie still without a sound;
like some soft minister of dreams
the snow-fall hoods me round;
in wood and water, earth and air,
a silence is everywhere.
Safe when at lonely spells
some farmer's sleigh, urged on,
with rustling runners and sharp bells,
swings by me and is gone;
or from the empty waste I hear
a sound remote and clear.
The barking of a dog
to cattle, sharply pealed,
borne echoing from some wayside stall
or barnyard far afield.
Then all is silent and the snow
falls settling soft and slow.
The evening deepens and the grey
folds closer earth and sky.
The world seems shrouded so far away.
Its noises sleep and I
secret as yon buried stream
plod dumbly on and dream.
And dream... and dream.
I dream... I dream.