A Winter Phantasy

by William Cowper — a poem card from Justes Mots

This winter fantasy invites the soul to sail through heaven on moonlit nights, transcending earthly constraints and pain. The poem juxtaposes the sublime frost-lit landscape with the temptation to escape earthly suffering, ultimately counseling return and acceptance. It explores the tension between spiritual aspiration and earthly attachment, using winter imagery to convey both beauty and melancholy.

The day was all delight,
Chorus and golden tune;
Rides the steep night
The white ship of the moon.

Now that the night is come
And silence wakes to power,
All that was dumb…

Themes: birthday · friendship · encouragement · reflection