WINTER'S EVE 199 



a lost soul from the blur of the forest, 

 remains concealed during the day, perched 

 up against the bole of a fir tree, or in the 

 cavity of a hollow oak or elm. At night 

 they are seen occasionally and by chance, 

 as their broad wings beat against the sky. 

 Any such cries, lonesome and ghostly, 

 coming in the dark, can mean but one thing 

 to the countryman death. 



What fantasies are called up on a night 

 like this, leaning up against the barred 

 gate, alone! Away in front, the dark, 

 level grass land beyond, the forest. A 

 sky bright with stars gleaming and winking, 

 high up, unattainable. There is Sirius, 

 the largest star, flaming with sudden molten 

 crimson, then flashing a blue spearhead of 

 light. Possibly there is a mist around that 

 sun, so many millions of miles away, that 

 breaks up the light as the prism of glass 

 does the colours of the spectrum. Over 

 the thick blackness in front a figure is 

 moving^-or am I imagining things ? Just 



L.S. 



