The day is bitter. Through the hollow sky Rolls the clear sun, inexorably bright, Glares on the shrinking earth, a lidless eye, Shedding no warmth, but ?oods of blinding light. The hurricane roars loud. The facile sea With passionate resentment writhes and raves Beneath its maddening whip, and furiously Responds with all the thunder of its waves. The iron rock, ice — locked, snow-sheathed, lies still, The centre of this devastated world, Beaten and lashed by wind and sea at will, Buried in spray by the fierce breakers hurled.