Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MIDNIGHT, by DAVID MACBETH MOIR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MIDNIGHT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis night, and in darkness; -- the visions of youth
Last Line: The sign of forgiveness from maker to man!
Alternate Author Name(s): Delta
Subject(s): Night; Bedtime


'TIS night, and in darkness; -- the visions of youth
Flit solemn and slow in the eye of the mind;
The hopes that excited have perish'd; -- and truth
Laments o'er the wreck they are leaving behind.
'Tis midnight; -- and wide o'er the regions of riot
Are spread, deep in silence, the wings of repose;
And man, sooth'd from revel and lull'd into quiet,
Forgets in his slumber the weight of his woes.
How gloomy and dim is the scowl of the heaven,
Whose azure the clouds with their darkness invest:
Not a star o'er the shadowy concave is given,
To omen a something like hope in the breast.
Hark! how the lone night-wind up-tosses the forest;
A downcast regret through the mind slowly steals;
But ah! 'tis the tempests of Fortune, that sorest
The desolate heart in its loneliness feels.
Where, where are the spirits in whom was my trust;
Whose bosoms with mutual affection would burn?
Alas! they are gone to their homes in the dust;
The grass rustles drearily over their urn:
Whilst I, in a populous solitude languish,
Mid foes who beset me, and friends who are cold:
Yes, -- the pilgrim of earth oft has felt in his anguish
That the heart may be widow'd before it be old!
Affection can soothe but its vot'ries an hour, --
Doom'd soon in the flames that it raised to depart;
But oh! Disappointment has poison and power
To ruffle and fret the most patient of heart!
How oft 'neath the dark-pointed arrows of malice
Hath merit been destined to bear and to bleed;
And they who of pleasure have emptied the chalice,
Can tell that the dregs are full bitter indeed!
Let the storms of adversity lower, -- 'tis in vain,
Though friendsshould forsake me and foes should condemn;
These may kindle the breasts of the weak to complain,
They only can teach resignation to mine:
For far o'er the regions of doubt and of dreaming,
The spirit beholds a less perishing span;
And bright through the tempest the rainbow is streaming, --
The sign of forgiveness from MAKER to Man!





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