"The white bark writhed and sputtered like a fish"

The white bark writhed and sputtered like a fish

Upon the coals, exuding odorous smoke

She knelt and blew, in a surging desolate wish

For comfort; and the sleeping ashes woke

And scattered to the hearth, but no thin fire

Broke suddenly, the wood was wet with rain.

Then, softly stepping forth from her desire,

(Being mindful of like passion hurled in vain

Upon a similar task, in other days)

She thrust her breath against the stubborn coal,

Bringing to bear upon its hilt the whole

Of her still body. . . there sprang a little blaze. . .

A pack of hounds, the flame swept up the flue!—

And the blue night stood flattened against the window,

     staring through.