Lay to wait the bitter vexing of the fierce, remorseless harrow—
Lay impatient for the seeding, for the growing and the reaping,
All the richer and the readier for the quiet winter-sleeping.
At his loom the pallid weaver, with his feet upon the treadles,
Watched the threads alternate rising, with the lifting of the heddles—
Not admiring that, so swiftly, at his eager fingers’ urging,
Flew the bobbin-loaded shuttle ’twixt the filaments diverging;
Only labor dull and cheerless in the work before him seeing,
As the warp and woof uniting brought the figures into being.
Roared the fire before the bellows; glowed the forge’s dazzling crater;