Poems (Bushnell)/Twilight
For works with similar titles, see Twilight.
XVITWILIGHT
Aweary, vague and glimmering lies the land, Where Twilight, like a nun in vesture gray,Comes with a flickering taper in her hand, Whose pale and spiritual ray Lights face and breast.
Fainter and fainter grows the upward light, And deeper creeps the darkness round her feet,While all across the world she leads the night, And shuts the day that was so sweet Behind the west.
Alas! for she has left me in the arms Of night, who holds me in a prison cell:Begirt with dark and shadowy alarms, I pray for light, whose sword can fell These phantom foes!
At last there come faint shinings through the veil, As if behind it had been born a star;The dead horizon grows a circlet pale, And out beyond the world more far Blossoms a rose.
Tis twilight, with the rose upon her cheek, In veil and clear adornments of a bride; Her happy eyes the happy tidings speak, She throws the portals open wide, And lo! the sun!
When dark-winged grief o'ershadows me with night Shall not my soul with hope the day await? For that which brought the darkness brings the light, And opens the eternal gate Toward which I run.