Claude McKay's Early Poetry (1911-1922): A Digital Collection

Summer Morn in New Hampshire (1920 version)

[See the 1922 version as published in Harlem Shadows here]

All yesterday it poured, and all night long
I could not sleep; the rain unceasing beat

Upon the shingled roof like some weird song
Upon the grass like running children's feet.

And down the mountains by the dark clouds kissed,
Like a pale girl in floating veiling dressed,

​Slid slowly, silently, the wraith-like mist,
​Nestling softly against the earth's  wet breast.

But O! it was so wonderful at dawn!
​The still air stirred at touch of the faint breeze,

​The sun, a sheet of gold, spread o'er the lawn,
​The song-birds caroled in the dancing trees,

And every creature hailed with joy the day:
​But wearily, I turned away from all;

For you, who hold my heart, are far away,
So far away, lost, lost, beyond recall.

(Workers Dreadnought. July 31, 1920. Signed as Claude McKay)
​(Edited and Proofread by Amardeep Singh)
 

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