To The Lake

In spring of youth it was my lot

      To haunt of the wide world a spot

      The which I could not love the less-

      So lovely was the loneliness

      Of a wild lake, with black rock bound,

      And the tall pines that towered around.

      But when the Night had thrown her pall

      Upon that spot, as upon all,

      And the mystic wind went by

      Murmuring in melody-

      Then- ah then I would awake

      To the terror of the lone lake.

      Yet that terror was not fright,

      But a tremulous delight-

      A feeling not the jewelled mine

      Could teach or bribe me to define-

      Nor Love- although the Love were thine.

      Death was in that poisonous wave,

      And in its gulf a fitting grave

      For him who thence could solace bring

      To his lone imagining-

      Whose solitary soul could make

      An Eden of that dim lake.