The Sun kept stooping－stooping－low! 1
The Hills to meet him rose!
On his side, what Transaction!
On their side, what Repose!
Deeper and deeper grew the stain 5
Upon the window pane－
Thicker and thicker stood the feet
Until the Tyrian
Was crowded dense with Armies－9
So gay, so Brigadier－
That I felt martial stirrings
Who once the Cockade wore－
Charged from my chimney corner－13
But Nobody was there!
The Hills to meet him rose!
On his side, what Transaction!
On their side, what Repose!
Deeper and deeper grew the stain 5
Upon the window pane－
Thicker and thicker stood the feet
Until the Tyrian
Was crowded dense with Armies－9
So gay, so Brigadier－
That I felt martial stirrings
Who once the Cockade wore－
Charged from my chimney corner－13
But Nobody was there!
(F.182/J.152)
[1] Sun:: a sun plant, a plant that prefers sunshine.
[2] Hills:: hill-ants, a species that forms ant-hills (OED 4f).
[3] Transaction:: the plant touched the house and formed a path for the ants.
[4] repose:: a trust, confidence; a reliable path for the ants.
[5] grew the stain:: moving of the ants looked like a stain on the wall.
[8] Tyrian:: color of the ants.
[9-11] dense with Armies, martial:: the marching of ants.
[12] the Cockade:: their antennae.
[13] chimney Corner, Nobody:: ants (stain) unnoticeable.