In Northern France

Edwin Curran

The moonlight, patterning all the cloudy sky,
Shaped on the wall of night with silver bars
A huge cloud form that floated, drifting by
Like some great building leaning on the stars.
Swung in the hammock of the wind it sped
Masoned from the blocks of clouds and light,
Windowed into bloom like some cathedral dead,
Its buttresses high on the walls of night.
I saw the belfry and the solid towers,
The mellow clouds all built up, sail with sail,
And chiseled to a great cathedral form--
And Fancy saw there all the heavenly powers,
The angels lifting on the silver gale
The martyred Rheims to Heaven in the storm.


Main Location:

France