 | Orellana and Other Poems |  |
192
THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST.
Now, while above heaven's windows dim and darken,
And shadows shoot and grow,
And the wild peaks of rocky Thelemarken
Blacken the evening glow,—
And shadows shoot and grow,
And the wild peaks of rocky Thelemarken
Blacken the evening glow,—
My thoughts come back from roaming o'er far places,
Like sea-birds to their isle;
And here in Norway bonnie Scottish faces
Look through the gloom, and smile.
Like sea-birds to their isle;
And here in Norway bonnie Scottish faces
Look through the gloom, and smile.
I know them all: it is a birthday meeting,
And she, the birthday Queen,
Looks round as she receives each kindly greeting
For one, who is not seen.
And she, the birthday Queen,
Looks round as she receives each kindly greeting
For one, who is not seen.
193
There's mirth, and music, and the chink of glasses,
Laughter, and lights, and flowers;
—And so they pelt with roses, as he passes,
Time, and his train of hours.
Laughter, and lights, and flowers;
—And so they pelt with roses, as he passes,
Time, and his train of hours.
The lights are out at last, the guests departed,
Yet, lingering near the gate,
There's one, I know, is listening gentle-hearted,
Although the night be late.
Yet, lingering near the gate,
There's one, I know, is listening gentle-hearted,
Although the night be late.
She feels almost a lover's kind caresses,
Hears his approaching feet:
—'Tis but the night wind in her wavy tresses,
Or blowing down the street.
Hears his approaching feet:
—'Tis but the night wind in her wavy tresses,
Or blowing down the street.
Retire, sweet lass! in vain you look and hearken
For steps that are not near;
His path is through the wilds of Thelemarken,
Whose voice you think you hear.
For steps that are not near;
His path is through the wilds of Thelemarken,
Whose voice you think you hear.
194
The vision fades—fade all the much-loved faces,
Fade Perth, Kinnoull, and Tay;
And unfamiliar outlines fill their places
And gloom athwart my way.
Fade Perth, Kinnoull, and Tay;
And unfamiliar outlines fill their places
And gloom athwart my way.
I hear but in the wood the torrent calling
In tones that come and go,
I feel but from the feels a silence falling
Into the vand below.
In tones that come and go,
I feel but from the feels a silence falling
Into the vand below.
And now above heaven's windows fairly darken,
And earth is black and drear:
—And what do I afar in Thelemarken
From all my heart holds dear?
And earth is black and drear:
—And what do I afar in Thelemarken
From all my heart holds dear?
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