Breath of Earth

To my agent, Rebecca Strauss

. . . Drop down, fleecy Fog! and hide

Her sceptic sneer, and all her pride.

Wrap her, Fog, in gown and hood

Of her Franciscan Brotherhood.

Hide me her faults, her sin and blame;

With thy gray mantle cloak her shame!

So shall she, cowlèd, sit and pray

Till morning bears her sins away.

Then rise, O fleecy Fog, and raise

The glory of her coming days . . .

—B
RET
H
ARTE
, “S
AN
F
RANCISCO
”