 | Fantasy and Passion |  |
HEAT-LIGHTNING.
The land is bathed in drowsy light,
And breezes move, with drowsy sigh,
From out that primrose West where now
The long day takes so long to die!
And breezes move, with drowsy sigh,
From out that primrose West where now
The long day takes so long to die!
I watch the deepening dusk, I watch,
With soul to languid fancies given,
Night close the starry flowers on earth
And ope the flowerlike stars in heaven!
With soul to languid fancies given,
Night close the starry flowers on earth
And ope the flowerlike stars in heaven!
Not seen with more than transient look
If random glances near it stray,
Huge in the hueless East there hangs
One rounded cloud of stagnant gray.
If random glances near it stray,
Huge in the hueless East there hangs
One rounded cloud of stagnant gray.
12
The moments pass; a rapid bat
Traces black zigzags on the sky;
A beetle, bringing us his deep
Basso profundo, journeys by.
Traces black zigzags on the sky;
A beetle, bringing us his deep
Basso profundo, journeys by.
Down in the dim swamp, firefly throngs
A brilliant soundless revel keep,
As though beneath their radiant rain
Another Danaë slept her sleep!
A brilliant soundless revel keep,
As though beneath their radiant rain
Another Danaë slept her sleep!
The mild night grows; through meadowed ways
The globing dew makes odor sweet,
And slowly now, in that dark cloud,
A pulse of gold begins to beat!
The globing dew makes odor sweet,
And slowly now, in that dark cloud,
A pulse of gold begins to beat!
With fitful brightenings, brief to last,
The tender flashes come and fly,
Each winning forth from vapory depths
A dreamy picture, rich of dye.
The tender flashes come and fly,
Each winning forth from vapory depths
A dreamy picture, rich of dye.
Drenched to its core with gentle fire,
The cloud, at every mellowing change,
Shows tranquil lakes and lovely vales
And massive mountains, range on range!
The cloud, at every mellowing change,
Shows tranquil lakes and lovely vales
And massive mountains, range on range!
And standing in the summer gloom,
With placid rapture I behold
These luminous Andes of the air,
These ghostly Switzerlands of gold!
With placid rapture I behold
These luminous Andes of the air,
These ghostly Switzerlands of gold!
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