Wind makes the open grassy spaces feel bleak, but the speaker’s eye settles on an old stone wall catching sunlight on its warm side. The gusts that sweep the field falter when they reach it, too weak to blow anything clear. In that small sheltered spot, moisture, color, and smell begin to thicken. The daylight itself seems to gather weight and presence. It is a quiet study of contrast: harsh open wind against the still, sun-warmed air by the wall. The old wall is called a “sunny cheek,” which gives it a gentle, living warmth. The speaker seems to feel the pull of that little pocket of calm, where the day’s sensory richness concentrates. The mood is hushed, close, almost drowsy, as if the light is becoming something you could breathe or touch.
Atmosphere — Summary
Winds blow the open grassy places bleak; But where this old wall burns a sunny cheek, They eddy over it too toppling weak To blow the earth or anything self-clear; Moisture and color and odor thicken here. The hours of daylight gather atmosphere.