Lo, a star falls!—Let us fly and hold it fast in our embrace,
Let us fly to greet it, ere 'tis shattered, leaving not a trace.
ith the milky down, the filmy coat of darkness let us play,
With the plumage of the night-owls wheeling upwards and away.
Let us speed to catch the flitter-mouse, so softly flying past,
E'en as we, and in our tiny meshes let us hold him fast.
Let us flit from peak to peak, like to gently swaying bridges.
By the shafts of starlight fastened to the corners of the ridges.
And upon them rests the wind that for a moment bates its soaring,
Ere afresh it rends us down and drives us onward, dancing, roaring!
2. ON THE LONELY ROAD.
On my spirit's chords thy fingers
Thou, O tempest, lay.
The dream that 'mid deep water lingers,
'Mid bright dawning, play.
Play the strains from pasture streaming,
From the drowsy pines;
Play what in misty chasm dreaming
Round the rainbow twines.
