| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Robert Bridges. b. 1844 |
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| 839. Winter Nightfall |
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| THE day begins to droop,— | |
| Its course is done: | |
| But nothing tells the place | |
| Of the setting sun. | |
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| The hazy darkness deepens, | 5 |
| And up the lane | |
| You may hear, but cannot see, | |
| The homing wain. | |
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| An engine pants and hums | |
| In the farm hard by: | 10 |
| Its lowering smoke is lost | |
| In the lowering sky. | |
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| The soaking branches drip, | |
| And all night through | |
| The dropping will not cease | 15 |
| In the avenue. | |
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| A tall man there in the house | |
| Must keep his chair: | |
| He knows he will never again | |
| Breathe the spring air: | 20 |
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| His heart is worn with work; | |
| He is giddy and sick | |
| If he rise to go as far | |
| As the nearest rick: | |
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| He thinks of his morn of life, | 25 |
| His hale, strong years; | |
| And braves as he may the night | |
| Of darkness and tears. | |
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