midday
Then slowly from the stillness there welled forth music , drop by drop like the clear falling of rain , and the man shuddered for he knew that he heard the beginning of the Rime . High rose the air , and trembled among the tallest pines and the summits of great hills . And in it were the sting of rain and the blatter of hail , the soft crush of snow and the rattle of thunder among crags . Then it quieted to the low sultry croon which told of blazing midday when the streams are parched and the bent crackles like dry tinder . Anon it was evening , and the melody dwelled among the high soft notes which mean the coming of dark and the green light of sunset . Then the whole changed to a great paean which rang like an organ through the earth . There were trumpet notes ill it and flute notes and the plaint of pipes .