spellbound

the night is darkening round me,

the wild winds coldly blow;

but a tyrant spell has bound me

and i cannot, cannot go.

the giant trees are bending

their bare boughs weighed with snow.

and the storm is fast descending,

and yet i cannot go.

clouds beyond clouds above me,

wastes beyond wastes below;

but nothing dear can move me;

i will not, cannot go.

emily brontë

the wise trees

stand sleeping in the cold

william carlos williams

and fragile folk might be here

that white winds bid depart;

thomas hardy