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THE NIGHT-WIND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: In summer's mellow midnight
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis


In summer's mellow midnight,
āàA cloudless moon shone through
Our open parlour window,
āàAnd rose-trees wet with dew.

I sat in silent musing;
āàThe soft wind waved my hair;
It told me heaven was glorious,
āàAnd sleeping earth was fair.

I needed not its breathing
āàTo bring such thoughts to me;
But still it whispered lowly,
āàHow dark the woods will be!

'The thick leaves in my murmur
āàAre rustling like a dream,
And all their myriad voices
āàInstinct with spirit seem.'

I said, 'Go, gentle singer,
āàThy wooing voice is kind:
But do not think its music
āàHas power to reach my mind.

'Play with the scented flower,
āàThe young tree's supple bough,
And leave my human feelings
āàIn their own course to flow.'

The wanderer would not heed me;
āàIts kiss grew warmer still.
'O come!' it sighed so sweetly;
āà'I'll win thee 'gainst thy will.

'Were we not friends from childhood?
āàHave I not loved thee long?
As long as thou, the solemn night,
āàWhose silence wakes my song.

'And when thy heart is resting
āàBeneath the church-aisle stone,
I shall have time for mourning,
āàAnd thou for being alone.'






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