Emily Pauline Johnson

The Lifting of the Mist

    All the long day the vapours played
        At blindfold in the city streets,
    Their elfin fingers caught and stayed
        The sunbeams, as they wound their sheets
    Into a filmy barricade
        'Twixt earth and where the sunlight beats.

    A vagrant band of mischiefs these,
        With wings of grey and cobweb gown;
    They live along the edge of seas,
        And creeping out on foot of down,
    They chase and frolic, frisk and tease
        At blind-man's buff with all the town.

    And when at eventide the sun
        Breaks with a glory through their grey,
    The vapour-fairies, one by one,
    Outspread their wings and float away
    In clouds of colouring, that run
        Wine-like along the rim of day.

    Athwart the beauty and the breast
        Of purpling airs they twirl and twist,
    Then float away to some far rest,
        Leaving the skies all colour-kiss't -
    A glorious and a golden West
        That greets the Lifting of the Mist.