The wind was rough which tore

‘Listen! When your hair, like mine,Takes a tint of silver gray;When your eyes, with dimmer shine,Watch life’s bubbles float away:When you, young man, have borne like meThe weary weight of sixty-three,Then shall penance sore be paidFor those hours so wildly squandered;And the words that now fall deadOn your ear, be deeply pondered—Pondered and approved at…

Thou hast but roused a latent thought,A cloud-closed beam of sunshine, broughtTo gleam in open view.Deep down, concealed within my soul,That light lies hid from men;Yet, glows unquenched – though shadows roll,Its gentle ray cannot control,About the sullen den.Was I not vexed, in these gloomy waysTo walk alone so long?Around me, wretches uttering praise,Or howling…

The solemn hour of midnightBreathes sweet thoughts everywhere,But most where trees are sendingTheir breezy boughs on high,Or stooping low are lendingA shelter from the sky.And there in those wild bowersA lovely form is laid;Green grass and dew-steeped flowersWave gently round her head.

The bee among the heather – bellsThat hide my lady fair:The wild deer browse above her breast;The wild birds raise their brood;And they, her smiles of love caressed,Have left their solitude!I ween, that when the grave’s dark wallDid first her form retain,They thought their hearts could ne’er recallThe light of joy again.They thought the tide…

The solemn hour of midnightBreathes sweet thoughts everywhere,But most where trees are sendingTheir breezy boughs on high,Or stooping low are lendingA shelter from the sky.And there in those wild bowersA lovely form is laid;Green grass and dew-steeped flowersWave gently round her head.

Our open parlour window,And rose-trees wet with dew.I sat in silent musing;The soft wind waved my hair;It told me heaven was glorious,And sleeping earth was fair.I needed not its breathingTo bring such thoughts to me;But still it whispered lowly,‘How dark the woods would be!‘The thick leaves in my murmurAre rustling like a dream,And all their…