The United Co-operative/Volume 1/Number 2/The Comforter

The lightning flash’d a violet-green,
As through the valley’s broad divide
A startling silence gripp’d the scene—
A tenseness held the lowlands wide.

The thunder burst the bounds of air,
And O’er the heavens’ unmark’d track
The imps of storm leap’d everywhere
With crimson banners fring’d with black.

Grim terror chill’d the heart of me
Till in the wake of thunder’s roll
A bird, hid in a rain-drenched tree,
Sang out the sweet song of its soul!