* YOUNG NIGHT *

When flitter-mice with zigzag flight

Specked the green sky at twilight dim;

When the wise bird from out the brim

Of forest darkness to the light

Floated and perched upon a height,

With mellow voice to welcome night;

When day was stolen from the dale

To leave, where little river goes,

One farewell, dusky gleam of rose;

When down the purple of the vale

A wingèd beetle boomed his tale

And night-moth drank from night-flow’ r pale;

When grey churn-owl within a glade

Purred through the gloaming, till the sky

Throbbed with his goblin melody;

When, by her stone, the glow-worm played

And with an emerald lamp betrayed

The new-born dew-drops on the blade;

When young Night’ s self in starry dress

Came timid to her throne again —

Sweet anodyne for dead day’ s pain

And fire and wound and fevered stress —

With heart to soothe and will to bless,

Then how I loved her loveliness!