Soon from the hub on Heaven’s axel-tree
The frozen hail flies spinning, and the sea
Is lashed beneath me to a howling smoke
As if the frozen fires of hell had woke
And cracked their icy flames in the face of Heaven.
Withered and crouching and scarce breathing even,
And battered as a gnat upon a wall
I cling and gasp—climb to my feet, and fall,
And crawl at last beneath a lidded stone,
Careless if all the earth’s foundations groan