Or thaws and rains make life a sea of mud.

You close each door, draw armchairs nigh the fire,

But draughts sneak in and make you draw ’em nigher–

No matter: still they come: play parlour gales

And whisk about their hyperboreal tails;

Bed’s the one hope, and scarcely tried before

Next morning’s postman thunders at the door.

Meanwhile–if I may gently hint–I wear

But scanty clothes, though all the sun will bear;

A red-hot sun smiles on a hot blue sea