Study in Colour: Hers is a land so wispy and white... Op. 40

Hers is a land so wispy and white,
It well conceals its breathless height;
Its plains of cloud and its arcs of air,
That do punctuate the land with a mountain peak;
Silent and dark, lest echo with her cringing shriek.
Distant eagle! Shard of sequestred shade,
Claim the plains and claim the mountains,
Claim the summit, claim the ridge and the crevice,
Whose obsidian is your sun in yon states of ice!
Let lonely wanderer be your company, his fire
Your ecstasy, his bravery for deeds a-higher
Your pleasure, and his pleasure for your desire.
Though the domains be untouched by verdure,
Streams untouched by spring, and by summer's pride
Only yon spires of ice show their darkling hide,
Let none claim for death, for barren wraith,
The breadth of wing of your resilient swathe.
Make the climber of clouds be your blood,
The might of man and our kings your weal,
Eagle! Let his blood serve you a hearty meal!