Poems (Frances Elizabeth Browne)/Thoughts on a moonlight night
THOUGHTS ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT.
Mild, effulgent orb of night,
Gleaming through my window bright,
How many may, with calm delight,
This moment gaze on thee!
Some chastened child of sorrow's train,
Perhaps tossing on a bed of pain
And courting balmy sleep in vain,
May turn her eyes to thee,
And in thy softened, soothing ray,
Inspiring hope as bright, she may
Thy Maker's goodness see!
Gleaming through my window bright,
How many may, with calm delight,
This moment gaze on thee!
Some chastened child of sorrow's train,
Perhaps tossing on a bed of pain
And courting balmy sleep in vain,
May turn her eyes to thee,
And in thy softened, soothing ray,
Inspiring hope as bright, she may
Thy Maker's goodness see!
Haply the lover, far removed
From her most fondly, truly loved,
Thy sympathetic beam
May hail, recalling joys long fled,
In memory cherished still, and, led
By fairy fancy, largely shed
By thy sweet influence, delightful dream,—
May see the loved one shed a tear
For him, may hear her breathe a prayer
For his return; and ah! how dear
That tear, that prayer, would seem!
From her most fondly, truly loved,
Thy sympathetic beam
May hail, recalling joys long fled,
In memory cherished still, and, led
By fairy fancy, largely shed
By thy sweet influence, delightful dream,—
May see the loved one shed a tear
For him, may hear her breathe a prayer
For his return; and ah! how dear
That tear, that prayer, would seem!
And Cynthia, ever thy pale ray
Is dearer than the blaze of day
To minds of thoughtful mould;
While lesser fires, a numerous train,
Around thee glitter, banish vain,
And glorious thoughts unfold.
Is dearer than the blaze of day
To minds of thoughtful mould;
While lesser fires, a numerous train,
Around thee glitter, banish vain,
And glorious thoughts unfold.