A Day

I. MORNING         The village fades away         Where I last night came,         Where they housed me and fed me         And never asked my name.         The sun shines bright, my step is light,         I, who have no abode,         Jeer at the stuck, monotonous         Black posts along the road.         II. MIDDAY         The wood is still,         As here I sit         My heart drinks in         The peace of it.         A something stirs         I know not where,         Some quiet spirit         In the air.         O tall straight stems!         O cool deep green!         O hand unfelt!         O face unseen!         III. EVENING         The evening closes in,         As down this last long lane         I plod; there patter round         First heavy drops of rain.         Feet ache, legs ache, but now         Step quickens as I think         Of mounds of bread and cheese         And something hot to drink.         IV. NIGHT         Ah! sleep is sweet, but yet         I will not sleep awhile         Nor for a space forget         The toil of that last mile;         But lie awake and feel         The cool sheets' tremulous kisses         O'er all my body steal...         Is sleep as sweet as this is?