An awful Tempest mashed the air－1
The clouds were gaunt, and few－
A Black－as of a Spectre's Cloak
Hid Heaven and Earth from view.
The creatures chuckled on the Roofs－5
And whistled in the air－
And shook their fists－
And gnashed their teeth－
And swung their frenzied hair.
The morning lit－the Birds arose－9
The Monster's faded eyes
Turned slowly to his native coast－
And peace－was Paradise!
The clouds were gaunt, and few－
A Black－as of a Spectre's Cloak
Hid Heaven and Earth from view.
The creatures chuckled on the Roofs－5
And whistled in the air－
And shook their fists－
And gnashed their teeth－
And swung their frenzied hair.
The morning lit－the Birds arose－9
The Monster's faded eyes
Turned slowly to his native coast－
And peace－was Paradise!
(F.224/J.198)
[1] Tempest:: a violent tumult.
[2] clouds, few:: a hint on a tumult, not a weather storm.
[3] Black:: black bear.
[4] Hid, view:: the bear attracted everyone's view.
[5–9] creatures:: other beasts in the park.
[11] Monster:: the black bear.
[12] coast:: country-side, border of a country.
[13] Paradise:: a park with wild beasts.
The first district borders on the ocean, and is from fifty to seventy miles in width, and terminates about 80 miles North of the Columbia river. . . . The Black Bear is sometimes seen in the first district; ─ A Geographical Sketch of that Part of North America, called Oregon (1830)