At Night

Dreary! weary!

Weary! dreary!

Sighs my soul this lonely night.

Farewell gladness!

Welcome sadness!

Vanished are my visions bright.

Stars are shining!

Winds are pining!

In the sky and o'er the sea;

Shine forever

Stars! but never

Can the starlight gladden me.

Stars! you nightly

Sparkle brightly,

Scattered o'er your azure dome;

While earth's turning,

There you're burning,

Beacons of a better home.

Stars! you brighten

And you lighten

Many a heart-grief here below;

But your gleaming

And your beaming

Cannot chase away my woe.

Stars! you're shining,

I am pining —

I am dark, but you are bright;

Hanging o'er me

And before me

Is a night you cannot light.

Night of sorrow,

Whose to-morrow

I may never, never see,

Till upon me

And around me

Dawns a bright eternity.

Winds! you're sighing,

And you're crying,

Like a mourner o'er a tomb;

Whither go ye,

Whither blow ye,

Wailing through the midnight gloom?

Chanting lowly,

Softly, lowly,

Like the voice of one in woe;

Winds so lonely,

Why thus moan ye?

Say, what makes you sorrow so?

Are you grieving

For your leaving

Scenes where all is fair and gay?

For the flowers

In their bowers,

You have met with on your way?

For fond faces,

For dear places,

That you've seen as on you swept?

Are you sighing,

Are you crying,

O'er the memories they have left?

Earth is sleeping

While you're sweeping

Through night's solemn silence by;

On forever,

Pausing never —

How I love to hear you sigh!

Men are dreaming,

Stars are gleaming

In the far-off heaven's blue;

Bosom aching,

Musing, waking,

Midnight winds, I sigh with you!