from SNOWBOUND
by John Greenleaf Whittier

We looked upon a world unknown, On nothing we could call our own. Around the glistening wonder bent The blue walls of the firmament, No cloud above, no earth below, --- A universe of sky and snow! The old familiar sight of ours Took marvelous shapes; strange domes and towers Rose up where sty or corn crib stood, Or garden wall, or belt of wood; A smooth white mound the brush pile showed, A fenceless drift what once was road; The bridle post an old man sat With loose-flung coat and high cocked hat; The well curb had a chinese roof; And even the long sweep, high aloof, In its slant splendor, seemed to tell Of Pisa's leaning miracle.