 | Poems |  |
33
NIGHT AND MORNING.
I wandered through the wood,
And I wandered by the wave;
I bent me o'er the flood,
Where angry waters rave.
And I wandered by the wave;
I bent me o'er the flood,
Where angry waters rave.
The night was gathering dark,
And the air was gathering damp;
There gleamed no glow-worm's spark,
No fire-fly's fluttering lamp.
And the air was gathering damp;
There gleamed no glow-worm's spark,
No fire-fly's fluttering lamp.
Fondly I sought to dream,
But mine eyelids would not close—
Grated the night-owl's scream,
Roared the pine's crashing brows.
But mine eyelids would not close—
Grated the night-owl's scream,
Roared the pine's crashing brows.
34
No nightingale was singing,
Those solemn glooms to cheer;
But the hollow winds were ringing
Their death-dirge in mine ear.
Those solemn glooms to cheer;
But the hollow winds were ringing
Their death-dirge in mine ear.
No lovely star was shining
Through those midnight heavens of dread;
No bowery foliage twining
Rich umbrage o'er my head.
Through those midnight heavens of dread;
No bowery foliage twining
Rich umbrage o'er my head.
No sweet night-blowing flowers,
With their mist of incense-steam,
No golden-fruited bowers
Stained by the noontide beam.
With their mist of incense-steam,
No golden-fruited bowers
Stained by the noontide beam.
No verdure fresh and fair—
Carpet for fairies' feet;
Spring's glories reigned not there,
Nor Summer's breathings sweet.
Carpet for fairies' feet;
Spring's glories reigned not there,
Nor Summer's breathings sweet.
35
Solemn the night, and dreary,—
A weight on eye and ear;
The very heart felt weary,
And o'ertaken by dim fear.
A weight on eye and ear;
The very heart felt weary,
And o'ertaken by dim fear.
Haunted by things long lost,
Pale, shadowy memories,
The undistinguishable host
Of aëry phantasies.
Pale, shadowy memories,
The undistinguishable host
Of aëry phantasies.
I strove to see the land—
I strove to see the sky;
But Darkness waved his wand,
Night was—Immensity!
I strove to see the sky;
But Darkness waved his wand,
Night was—Immensity!
But Slumber then descended,
Soft visions soothed my sight,
And when that brief sleep ended,
The universe was—Light!
Soft visions soothed my sight,
And when that brief sleep ended,
The universe was—Light!
36
O! my bounding heart was borne
On the wings of strong delight,
When thy approach, sweet morn!
Stilled the resounding night.
On the wings of strong delight,
When thy approach, sweet morn!
Stilled the resounding night.
Thus shines the splendid morrow,
When the heavy night is past,
And thus from holy sorrow
Spring heaven's own smiles at last!
When the heavy night is past,
And thus from holy sorrow
Spring heaven's own smiles at last!
Lovelier even light may be
From darkness burning forth—
O, Suffering! 'tis from thee
We learn Hope's costliest worth!
From darkness burning forth—
O, Suffering! 'tis from thee
We learn Hope's costliest worth!
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