The Barn and the Down

IT stood in the sunset skyLike the straight-backed down,Many a time--the barnAt the edge of the town,

So huge and dark that it seemed5It was the hillTill the gable's precipice provedIt impossible.

Then the great down in the westGrew into sight,10A barn stored full to the ridgeWith black of night;

And the barn fell to a barnOr even lessBefore critical eyes and its own15Late mightiness.

But far down and near barn and ISince then have smiled,Having seen my new cautiousnessBy itself beguiled20

To disdain what seemed the barnTill a few steps changedIt past all doubt to the down;So the barn was avenged.