This Gloomy Northern Day

THIS gloomy northern day,

Or this yet gloomier night,

Has moved a something high

In my cold heart; and I,

That do not often pray,

Would pray to-night.

And first on Thee I call

For bread, O God of might!

Enough of bread for all, —

That through the famished¹ town

Cold hunger may lie down

With none to-night.

I pray for hope no less,

Strong-sinewed hope, O Lord,

That to the struggling young

May preach with brazen² tongue

Stout³ Labour, high success,

And bright reward.

And last, O Lord, I pray

For hearts resigned and bold

To trudge⁴ the dusty way —

Hearts stored with song and joke

And warmer than a cloak

Against the cold.

If nothing else he had,

He who has this, has all.

This comforts under pain;

This, through the stinging rain,

Keeps ragamuffin glad

Behind the wall.

This makes the sanded inn

A palace for a Prince,

And this, when griefs begin

And cruel fate annoys,

Can bring to mind the joys

Of ages since.

1 famished   

adj.饥饿的

参考例句：

• When's lunch?I'm famished!什么时候吃午饭？我饿得要死了！
• My feet are now killing me and I'm absolutely famished.我的脚现在筋疲力尽，我绝对是极饿了。

2 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

4 trudge   

v.步履艰难地走；n.跋涉，费力艰难的步行

参考例句：

• It was a hard trudge up the hill.这趟上山是一次艰难的跋涉。
• The trudge through the forest will be tiresome.长途跋涉穿越森林会令人疲惫不堪。