Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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THE POWERS OF NIGHT. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
THE POWERS OF NIGHT.
Clouds, Stars, and Winds, and Shadows, these and NightTo lend them all a soul and spell of might,
These are the strong and the mysterious things
That call the Soul to soar upon her wings—
And ask new worlds their wonders; and that wake
Sad thoughts as force that Spirit's self to quake
Before what she herself but then poured forth,
Those bold free thoughts of deep and mystic worth:
For a new birth the Soul in joy receives,
Reality shrinks back, and wholly leaves
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But this lasts not, the World of things and men,
The common, actual, evil World again
Calls us and claims us, and that call and claim
We must obey, and must become the same!
Then Memories, fancies, and delights depart,
(To leave behind a sad and yearning heart;)
And when the Morning dawns, it finds us all
We were before—we have obeyed that call!
And higher thoughts and nobler dreams take flight,
With Clouds, Winds, Shadows, Stars, and sweeping Night
That lent them, in her dread and glorious hour,
So much of thrilling and prevailing power!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |