The scene captures the last moments of night dissolving into dawn. Thin clouds veil the moon; the “star-steeds” pulling night’s chariot head west, while the west wind sounds like a flute made of falling leaves. The forest and valley are imagined as a map in a dream, colored in violets and lavenders or shifting with breeze and light. The speaker feels hushed wonder, as if witnessing something delicate and slightly magical. The mood is calm, still, and expectant. Then the clouds thin further, the moon becomes a soft moonstone, leaves stop falling, and the wind dies. A new music begins just as the star-steeds’ golden hoofs touch the western hills, signaling dawn’s arrival. It is a quiet, reverent observation of change, full of color and gentle motion.
Coming of Dawn — Summary
Thin silver cloud-veils hide the moon. The star-steeds of the chariot of night Course for the western hills; The west-wind a ceaseless flute playing, With its stops of falling autumn leaves.
The forest and the valley a map Drawn by the explorers in the land of reverie: They color it with tones of violet and lavender; Or, make rainbow waves of leaf and light With tones from the changing palette of the breeze.
At last, the thin clouds become thinner yet; The moon now a moonstone in an opal dream; The leaves cease dropping, and dead the wind; Begins a new measure, a new flute playing, As the star-steeds' golden hoofs touch the western hills.