 | [The raft-light, in] The spirit of the fair. No. 17. Saturday, April 23, 1864 |  |
203
THE RAFT-LIGHT.
I looked out into the darkness,
And heard the falling rain,
The sleeping river whisper,
And the winds of Spring complain:
And heard the falling rain,
The sleeping river whisper,
And the winds of Spring complain:
I felt the earth's soft breathing
Answer the heaven's kiss,
And the odor of buds that open
Dreaming of summer's bliss.
Answer the heaven's kiss,
And the odor of buds that open
Dreaming of summer's bliss.
Dark as darkest chaos,
Nor river nor leaf for sight—
Only the fire of a boatman
Steering his raft by night.
Nor river nor leaf for sight—
Only the fire of a boatman
Steering his raft by night.
There on the gliding water
A fire that leapt and danced;
On the red shirt of the boatman,
And the dripping planks it glanced.
A fire that leapt and danced;
On the red shirt of the boatman,
And the dripping planks it glanced.
A sudden vivid picture,
The broad night for its frame;
In the sullen mist of midnight,
A living spot of flame.
The broad night for its frame;
In the sullen mist of midnight,
A living spot of flame.
Ah Love! in life's wide darkness
We all are set apart,
Side by side forever,
Hidden heart from heart.
We all are set apart,
Side by side forever,
Hidden heart from heart.
We hear the dropping and crying
Of tears on the barren strand;
We grope in night for succor
And the grasp of a friendly hand.
Of tears on the barren strand;
We grope in night for succor
And the grasp of a friendly hand.
Till the wandering, wondering poet,
Answereth man's desire;
And we see his heart and know it
By the light of its midnight fire!
Answereth man's desire;
And we see his heart and know it
By the light of its midnight fire!
| [The raft-light, in] The spirit of the fair. No. 17. Saturday, April 23, 1864 | |