WATCHING THE SHADOWS.

By Madge Morris Wagner

Watching the shadows, the fire-light shadows,

That gather and play on the wall;

Dark, flitting shadows, fanciful shadows,

That gather and rise and fall.

Reading the fire shadows’ language of shadows,

Pages of darkness and light —

Watching, watching,

Watching the shadows to-night.

Watching the shadows, the fire-light shadows,

That over the wall fitful play;

Dreaming of shadows, dreaming of shadows,

Deep darker shadows than they.

Heart-shading shadows, soul-darkening shadows,

Flitting in memory's light —

Dreaming, dreaming,

Watching the shadows to-night.

Watching the shadows, the fire-light shadows,

Merrily dancing about,

Wondering if heart-shadows vanish like shadows,

When life's fitful flame has gone out;

Wondering if shadows are deep, darker shadows,

Aeons of ages of blight;

Wondering, wondering,

Watching the shadows to-night.