Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Ebenezer Jones. 1820–1860745. When the World is burning
WHEN the world is burning, | |
Fired within, yet turning | |
Round with face unscathed; | |
Ere fierce flames, uprushing, | |
O’er all lands leap, crushing, | 5 |
Till earth fall, fire-swathed; | |
Up amidst the meadows, | |
Gently through the shadows, | |
Gentle flames will glide, | |
Small, and blue, and golden. | 10 |
Though by bard beholden, | |
When in calm dreams folden,— | |
Calm his dreams will bide. | |
Where the dance is sweeping, | |
Through the greensward peeping, | 15 |
Shall the soft lights start; | |
Laughing maids, unstaying, | |
Deeming it trick-playing, | |
High their robes upswaying, | |
O’er the lights shall dart; | 20 |
And the woodland haunter | |
Shall not cease to saunter | |
When, far down some glade, | |
Of the great world’s burning, | |
One soft flame upturning | 25 |
Seems, to his discerning, | |
Crocus in the shade. |