Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Autumn's elfin gold turns pale,
And twilight closes fast and chill,
And dirge-like winds with lengthening wail
Moan low, or rise with whistle shrill.
In winter's night the year declines,
A night that gaily we receive,
For thick with happy stars it shines,—
Its Hesper, Hallow-eve!
Fresh-dawning Hallow-eve!
Sweet new-old Hallow-eve!
For what thou wert, for what thou art,
Twice-welcome, Hallow-eve!

It freezes, but no frost on earth
The seasons of the soul can blight;
Here bloom at once a Spring of mirth,
A Summer-tide of joy to-night.

Though days grow short, this Fire 's a sun
That will not set without our leave;
Our hearts are flowering every one
In the beams of Hallow-eve!
Bright-blazing Hallow-eve!
Warm-glowing Hallow-eve!
Far sweeter flowers than April's dowers
Are these of Hallow-eve!

'Tis Autumn too; who can may snatch
The golden fruit from bough or pail;
But Fire and Water closely watch
The treasure, as in fairy tale.
And sure this is a fairy hour,
That lets the spirit-world retrieve
A little while its ancient power,
In right of Hallow-eve!
Mysterious Hallow-eve!
Fantastic Hallow-eve!
To hall and hob our childhood's throb
Returns with Hallow-eve!

Heav'n's stars were used for lamps of old
The future's mantling mist to clear;

By earth-stars are our fortunes told,
The Nuts in constellation here.
Glimpse of the patterns, gay or dull,
From which the Fatal Spinsters weave
Our life-threads for their Berlin-wool,
Is caught from Hallow-eve!
Love-sibyl, Hallow-eve!
Heart-prophet, Hallow-eve!
A nut can hold the story told
All through by Hallow-eve!

Now love in cabbage-stalk can read
Papyrus-wealth of hidden lore;
Or raise a crop from garden-seed,
Like that from dragons' teeth of yore.
To-night before the wasted fire
A phantom turns the drying sleeve,—
The treasured thought, the heart's desire,
Takes shape from Hallow-eve!
Fair-shadowing Hallow-eve!
Gay-threatening Hallow-eve!
A guardian sprite, a witch in white,
Is gentle Hallow-eve!

Here are no eyes to frown us grave,
No tongues to creak in rusty talk;
And cares take flight before our stave,
Like goblins from the crow of cock.
What grim and shadowy spectre hosts
Do men as substances receive?—
To-night we supersede such ghosts
By those of Hallow-eve!
Our laughing Hallow-eve!
Our loving Hallow-eve!
Till love and mirth have fled from earth,
Our thrice-dear Hallow-eve!