Though outwardly a gloomy shroud,
The inner half of every cloud
Is bright and shining:
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Though outwardly a gloomy shroud,
The inner half of every cloud
Is bright and shining:
I therefore turn my clouds about
And always wear them inside out
To show the lining.

Have you ever, looking up, seen a cloud like to a Centaur, a
Part, or a Wolf, or a read more

Have you ever, looking up, seen a cloud like to a Centaur, a
Part, or a Wolf, or a Bull?

Clouds on clouds, in volumes driven,
Curtain round the vault of heaven.

Clouds on clouds, in volumes driven,
Curtain round the vault of heaven.

But here by the mill the castled clouds
Mocked themselves in the dizzy water.

But here by the mill the castled clouds
Mocked themselves in the dizzy water.

The clouds,--the only birds that never sleep.

The clouds,--the only birds that never sleep.

Were I a cloud I'd gather
My skirts up in the air,
And fly well know whither,
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Were I a cloud I'd gather
My skirts up in the air,
And fly well know whither,
And rest I well know where.

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light read more

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And laugh as I pass in thunder.

The cloud never comes from the quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it.

The cloud never comes from the quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it.

O, it is pleasant, with a heart at ease,
Just after sunset, or by moonlight skies,
To read more

O, it is pleasant, with a heart at ease,
Just after sunset, or by moonlight skies,
To make the shifting clouds be what you please,
Or let the easily persuaded eyes
Own each quaint likeness issuing from the mould
Of a friend's fancy.