A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields/Sonnet (Sainte-Beuve)

For works with similar titles, see Sonnet.

SONNET.


SAINTE-BEUVE.


Awake in bed, I listened to the rain!
Thought followed thought, like surges fierce and high,
When sudden ran across the clouded sky
The lightning, like a steed with silver mane;
The thunder rattled rapid, in its train,
Earth trembled as the living wheels drew nigh
The prophet saw of old with dazzled eye,
And prowling lions fled their dens to gain.
But thou my soul as all the heaven was rent,
Felt thy life-current with the clamour warm,
For thou couldst join—such power to thee was lent—
In the wild concert, and thy part perform,
Greater as man than every element,
God spake in thee as loud as in the storm.