 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
280
DUSK, AND THE STAR.
The dusk was all about me, and my heart
Wore even a duskier aspect. Care had brought
A sense of gloom to shape the ungenial thought;
And shadows, sad or savage, seem'd to start
From the drear walls of vacancy. A chill
Settled on Fancy and the dreaming mood
That, whether it profits or not, in life is still
So precious to our forest solitude!
But while I brooded by the lattice, stealing—
As 'twere a spirit on meet service bent—
Sudden, the silent smiling of the moon
Made grateful all the shadows; and I leant
Forth, as if seeking to make sure the boon
And blessing that she brought me.
There they lay,
The smiling gleams among the trees, revealing
All the fair aspects of the twilight's noon;
To every wingéd fancy straight appealing,
To every latent consciousness revealing
A miracle of soul—the soul ascending
Once more on wings of hope; while, with the ray,
The southern breeze that came at moments blending
Earth's echoes with music of seraphic spheres,
Awaken'd each delicious fount of feeling,
And made a treasure of my very tears!
Wore even a duskier aspect. Care had brought
A sense of gloom to shape the ungenial thought;
And shadows, sad or savage, seem'd to start
From the drear walls of vacancy. A chill
Settled on Fancy and the dreaming mood
That, whether it profits or not, in life is still
So precious to our forest solitude!
But while I brooded by the lattice, stealing—
As 'twere a spirit on meet service bent—
Sudden, the silent smiling of the moon
Made grateful all the shadows; and I leant
Forth, as if seeking to make sure the boon
And blessing that she brought me.
There they lay,
The smiling gleams among the trees, revealing
All the fair aspects of the twilight's noon;
To every wingéd fancy straight appealing,
To every latent consciousness revealing
A miracle of soul—the soul ascending
Once more on wings of hope; while, with the ray,
The southern breeze that came at moments blending
Earth's echoes with music of seraphic spheres,
Awaken'd each delicious fount of feeling,
And made a treasure of my very tears!
And, faith, I wept! I was alone with sorrow—
A sorrow given to memory! I felt
That angels were about me; and I knelt,
In hope from earnest prayer awhile to borrow
Sweet and more certain converse with the power,
Surely of love, that thus about me came,
My minister of peace in vexing hour!
A sorrow given to memory! I felt
That angels were about me; and I knelt,
In hope from earnest prayer awhile to borrow
Sweet and more certain converse with the power,
281
My minister of peace in vexing hour!
Ah! blessings on the fancies which thus melt
The rocks and chains of loneliness; which shame
The sinking spirit; which revive the past,
Only to soothe the present; and awake
The sleeping hopes and fancies of the heart,
To urge it to new purpose, and to take
The sting away that made its solitude,
Its horror. All the shadowy glooms depart
With love, and moonlight, and the breeze!—I brood,
And find the world sufficient—find it good!
The rocks and chains of loneliness; which shame
The sinking spirit; which revive the past,
Only to soothe the present; and awake
The sleeping hopes and fancies of the heart,
To urge it to new purpose, and to take
The sting away that made its solitude,
Its horror. All the shadowy glooms depart
With love, and moonlight, and the breeze!—I brood,
And find the world sufficient—find it good!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |