It sifts from leaden sieves,

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face
Of mountain and of plain,―
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem,―
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were
Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen,―
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been.

Snow

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills the wrinkles of the road
With alabaster wool It makes an even face
Of mountain and of plain,―
Smooth forehead from the east
Unto the east again. It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil On stump and stack and stem,―
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were
Unknown, but for them. It ruffles wrists of poles,
As ankles of a queen,―
Then effaces its skill like ghosts,
Denying they have been.