WINGS OF FLAME. 317
But swift lights flash, The red light leaps While timbers crash And weakness weeps ; And into the storm with roar and crash, Red wings circle and soar and flash.
So into the night an inverted hell Kindled its lurid burnings well ; Red gleams arose
As thick clouds fell To mingle and close In the mimic hell, The gloom of these disclosed by those, As the steady gleam of the burning rose.
Steadily beating the mad bell rings ; The tall tower trembles, sways and swings : Above, the snow
Now melts and clings, While mad below The hoarse shout rings ; Thick in the heavens the clouds of snow, Reflecting the horror that rolls below.
There are billows of flame, they rush and roar And crackle and leap till the heavens o'er Flash grimly back The horrid glow, The ruin and rack That glare below; The swift storm squadrons dense and black Reflecting the blood red gleaming back.
The clinging lips of the furious fire With passionate, fierce and fell desire Are sated soon ;
The passion dire Is bated soon ; A bridal pyre ! And the ravished village is left alone To sigh and weep with piteous moan.
Temple and mart and dwelling gone, Blackened cinders on snow-white lawn ; And night 6hut» down Till tha coming dawn Reveal the town To the morrow's mora^ The gloom victorious settles down Over a blackened and ravished town.
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