By the road to the contagious^{1 hospital}

under the surge of the blue

mottled clouds driven from the

northeast-a cold wind. Beyond， the

waste of broad， muddy fields

brown with dried weeds， standing^{2 and fallen}

patches of standing water

the scattering^{3 of tall trees}

All along the road the reddish

purplish， forked， upstanding， twiggy⁴

stuff of bushes and small trees

with dead， brown leaves under them

leafless vines-

Lifeless in appearance， sluggish⁵

dazed spring approaches-

They enter the new world naked，

cold， uncertain of all

save that they enter. All about them

the cold， familiar wind-

Now the grass， tomorrow

the stiff curl of wildcarrot leaf

One by one objects are defined-

It quickens： clarity， outline of leaf

But now the stark dignity of

entrance-Still， the profound change

has come upon them： rooted， they

grip down and begin to awaken