I stopped and stood in wintery wood
		With fields upon its margin
		Moon shone down upon the ground
		And turned the snow to argent
		There, in the night, so daytime bright
		Saw I a strange and wonderful sight
		Without a breeze the boughs of trees
		Lifted up and swayed
		And then began to move
		Then all the trees with grace and ease
		They danced and played
		And in and out they wove


		Oak and pine began the line
		As ash struck up a measure
		Birch and fir began to stir
		And then joined in with pleasure
		Cedar deferred without a word
		Bowed to the elm, who never stirred
		So root and branch with graceful stance
		Did blithely trot
		And pass the whole night through
		And so did chance in the woodland's dance
		My eye was caught
		And my wonder ever grew


		When at last the night was past
		And stars shone ever paler
		Leaf and bole together stole
		Back to the woodland's veil
		Then it did seem, within the gleam
		Of rising sun, a far-off dream
		But on the morn, when all forlorn
		I sought that wood
		To prove the vision's worth
		That field was shorn, rutted and torn
		Nor snow yet stood
		Upon the root-tracked earth