| |
| THERE is an evening twilight of the heart, | |
| When its wild passion waves are lull’d to rest, | |
| And the eye sees life’s fairy scenes depart, | |
| As fades the day-beam in the rosy west. | |
| ’T is with a nameless feeling of regret | 5 |
| We gaze upon them as they melt away, | |
| And fondly would we bid them linger yet, | |
| But Hope is round us with her angel lay, | |
| Hailing afar some happier moonlight hour; | |
| Dear are her whispers still, though lost their early power. | 10 |
| |
| In youth the cheek was crimson’d with her glow; | |
| Her smile was loveliest then; her matin song | |
| Was heaven’s own music, and the note of wo | |
| Was all unheard her sunny bowers among. | |
| Life’s little world of bliss was newly born; | 15 |
| We knew not, cared not, it was born to die. | |
| Flush’d with the cool breeze and the dews of morn, | |
| With dancing heart we gazed on the pure sky, | |
| And mock’d the passing clouds that dimm’d its blue, | |
| Like our own sorrows then—as fleeting and as few. | 20 |
| |
| And manhood felt her sway too,—on the eye, | |
| Half realized, her early dreams burst bright, | |
| Her promised bower of happiness seem’d nigh, | |
| Its days of joy, its vigils of delight; | |
| And though at times might lower the thunder storm, | 25 |
| And the red lightnings threaten, still the air | |
| Was balmy with her breath, and her loved form, | |
| The rainbow of the heart, was hovering there. | |
| ’T is in life’s noontide she is nearest seen, | |
| Her wreath the summer flower, her robe of summer green. | 30 |
| |
| But though less dazzling in her twilight dress, | |
| There’s more of heaven’s pure beam about her now; | |
| That angel-smile of tranquil loveliness, | |
| Which the heart worships, glowing on her brow; | |
| That smile shall brighten the dim evening star | 35 |
| That points our destined tomb, nor e’er depart | |
| Till the faint light of life is fled afar, | |
| And hush’d the last deep beating of the heart; | |
| The meteor-bearer of our parting breath, | |
| A moon-beam in the midnight cloud of death. | 40 |
| |
