<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Sunset</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">LIKE a vast forest on some distant plain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out in the west, dark, rounded clouds lay low</p><p class="line">Upon the sea: o'er them, the sun's broad train—</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The glories of the golden afterglow.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Gold, and then crimson: changing, through degrees</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of red and green, to fields of turquoise blue:</p><p class="line">Then darker blue, that challenges the seas</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To deeper darkness, as the storm-clouds do.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then, when the stars gleamed faintly, blushing red</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">At their own eagerness: and as this feast</p><p class="line">Of beauty seemed complete, and day was dead,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I turned my face, and looked toward the east.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There I saw that which made me hold my breath;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I'd thought the sunset fair: now met my sight,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">In perfect contrast—like the peace of death</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">After life's glare—the grandeur of the night.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">In empty sky, still tinged with wondrous blue,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The full moon hung, displaying royally</p><p class="line">Her cold and naked beauty, as she threw</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her path of silver moonbeams on the sea.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God showed me then, that, if we learn to love</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The beauties that He sends us in our day,</p><p class="line">More lovely yet v/ill night celestial prove—</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The perfect calm of passions passed away.</p></div><p>Indian Ocean, November, 1916.</p></body></html> · Great War