Evening Star

'Twas noontide of summer,

               And mid-time of night;

             And stars, in their orbits,

               Shone pale, thro' the light

             Of the brighter, cold moon,

               'Mid planets her slaves,

             Herself in the Heavens,

               Her beam on the waves.

                 I gazed awhile

                 On her cold smile;

             Too cold- too cold for me-

               There pass'd, as a shroud,

               A fleecy cloud,

             And I turned away to thee,

               Proud Evening Star,

               In thy glory afar,

             And dearer thy beam shall be;

               For joy to my heart

               Is the proud part

             Thou bearest in Heaven at night,

               And more I admire

               Thy distant fire,

             Than that colder, lowly light.