"The Plateau", from <ref target="http://harlemshadows.org">Harlem Shadows: A Digital Edition</ref>
This file is produced from the material at [Harlem Shadows: A Digital Edition](http://harlemshadows.org)
December 6, 2015
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 4.0 International
This file is generated from a master file containing the text of Claude McKay's 1922 collection of poems Harlem Shadows and related documents (other appearances of McKay's poems, reviews, and related material). The base text for this file is drawn from the item listed below.
Claude McKay
The Plateau
Harlem Shadows
New York
Harcourt, Brace, and Company
1922
19
The Plateau
It was the silver, heart-enveloping view
Of the mysterious sea-line far away,
Seen only on a gleaming gold-white day,
That made it dear and beautiful to you.
And Laura loved it for the little hill,
Where the quartz sparkled fire, barren and dun,
Whence in the shadow of the dying sun,
She contemplated Hallow's wooden mill.
While Danny liked the sheltering high grass,
In which he lay upon a clear dry night,
To hear and see, screened skilfully from sight,
The happy lovers of the valley pass.
But oh! I loved it for the big round moon
That swung out of the clouds and swooned aloft,
Burning with passion, gloriously soft,
Lighting the purple flowers of fragrant June.