| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 787. The Crystal |
| | | By Titus Munson Coan |
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| OLYMPIAN sunlight is the Poet’s sphere; | |
| Yet of his rapt unconscious thought at play | |
| The wintry stream gave image but to-day, | |
| When first the frost his magic made appear; | |
| The darkling water dreamed, and mirrored clear, | 5 |
| A thousand miles adown, the clouds’ array, | |
| Nor any gleam or stirring did betray | |
| The secret of the transformation near— | |
| When, lo! what beauty flashing from the night | |
| Of formless atoms! Nature stirs amain, | 10 |
| Building her crystal arches firm and well, | |
| And framing fairy cantilevers bright. | |
| So broods the vision in the Poet’s brain, | |
| And leaps to life beneath a kindred spell. | |
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