Winter in Durnover Field by Thomas Hardy

Winter in Durnover Field by Thomas Hardy

Scene.--A wide stretch of fallow ground recently sown with wheat, and
frozen to iron hardness. Three large birds walking about thereon,
and wistfully eyeing the surface. Wind keen from north-east: sky a
dull grey.

(Triolet)

Rook.--Throughout the field I find no grain;
The cruel frost encrusts the cornland!
Starling.--Aye: patient pecking now is vain
Throughout the field, I find . . .
Rook.--No grain!
Pigeon.--Nor will be, comrade, till it rain,
Or genial thawings loose the lorn land
Throughout the field.
Rook.--I find no grain:
The cruel frost encrusts the cornland!

I am sure the birds around here are saying "no grain" because it snowed most the day.  I went for a walk today with my youngest son (21).  The snow was lightly falling when we first started the two mile loop, but soon the wind was blowing from the north and the snow came thicker and thicker.  The only birds we noticed were a pair of great horned owls we heard while passing a wooded area at 2:14 in the afternoon.