THE boding sky was charactered with cloud, <br />The scripture of the storm--but high in air, <br />Where the unfathomed zenith still was bare, <br />A pure expanse of rose-flushed violet glowed <br />And, kindling into crimson light, o'erflowed <br />The hurrying wrack with such a blood-red glare, <br />That heaven, igniting, wildly seemed to flare <br />On the dazed eyes of many an awe-struck crowd. <br /> <br />And in far lands folk presaged with blanched lips <br />Disastrous wars, earthquakes, and foundering ships, <br />Such whelming floods as never dykes could stem, <br />Or some proud empire's ruin and eclipse: <br />Lo, such a sky, they cried, as burned o'er them <br />Once lit the sacking of Jerusalem!<br /><br />Mathilde Blind<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-red-sunsets-ii-1883/
