| Louis Untermeyer, ed. (1885–1977). Modern American Poetry. 1919. |
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| Richard Le Gallienne. 1866– |
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| 35. August Moonlight |
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| THE solemn light behind the barns, | |
| The rising moon, the cricket's call, | |
| The August night, and you and I— | |
| What is the meaning of it all! | |
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| Has it a meaning, after all? | 5 |
| Or is it one of Nature's lies, | |
| That net of beauty that she casts | |
| Over Life's unsuspecting eyes? | |
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| That web of beauty that she weaves | |
| For one strange purpose of her own,— | 10 |
| For this the painted butterfly, | |
| For this the rose—for this alone! | |
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| Strange repetition of the rose, | |
| And strange reiterated call | |
| Of bird and insect, man and maid,— | 15 |
| Is that the meaning of it all? | |
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| If it means nothing after all! | |
| And nothing lives except to die— | |
| It is enough—that solemn light | |
| Behind the barns, and you and I. | 20 |
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