– 5 –

Candour

Everything was white this morning.
White mists wandered all about the river-bed,
Grey clouds, light-infused, conveyed the morning,
Covering with whiteness the wide sky overhead.

White, past belief, the high and snowy mountains,
Phantom-like, visionary; whiteness upon whiteness
Of frozen foam from far celestial fountains
Suffused with soft and universal brightness.

Everything was white, this morning,
Untroubled, luminous and tranquil pure;
Bright as an affianced bride, adorning
Herself with white upon the plighted morning;
Past all debate, all hazard, still, and sure.