THE LOOM OF AUTUMN 



" There she weaves both night and day 

 A magic web with colours gay." 



The Lady of Shalott, 



Earth, wedded to the Sun, gave 

 birth to four daughters, and confided 

 the shaping of her vesture to their 

 keeping. Winter, the eldest, silent, 

 ermine-cloaked, wears the northern 

 crown, and from her ice shuttle the 

 pole star rays and gleams. About her, 

 the North Wind roars his gusty love, 

 and by her side Orion watches, as she 

 weaves the snow linen of force-con- 

 serving sleep. Spring, the youngest, 

 is the heart flower, with curving pale 

 gold hair bound by the moon's slim 

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