One Night

I wandered down the moonlit woodsOne calm October night,—The very poplar-leaves hung still,The zephyrs were so light.

The pink-tinged radiance of the sky,Love-flushed the blazing stars,Until my soul leaped up to breakThese mortal prison bars.

The brook ran softly o'er the grass,Impearling pebbles gray,—The waterfall in fleecy cloudsOf mist dissolved away.

The air so calm, and cool, and clear,I seemed to pierce the screen,And look far up the ether voidsTo heavenly pastures green.

The crimson maples cast their leavesLow at my lingering feet,And all the languorous atmosphereWith dying flowers was sweet.

Lone! but, oh, grand! these autumn woods!Sad, cold and desolate!The cast-off leaves and wan moonlight,The brown earth tesselate.

Solemn and still,—my soul is awed!Silence my spirit givesFor all this beauty! Here, O God,Thy fullest presence lives!