ONE summer night, The full moon, 'tired in her golden cloak, Did beckon me, I thought; and I awoke, And saw a light, Most soft and fair, Shine in the brook, as if, in love's distress, The parting sun had shear'd a dazzling tress. And left it there. Toward the sweet banks Of the bright stream straightly I bent my way; And in my heart good thoughts the while did stay, Giving God thanks. The wheat-stocks stood Along the field like little fairy men, And mists stole, white and bashful, through the glen, As maidens would. In rich content My soul was growing toward immortal height, When, lo! I saw that by me, through the light, A shadow went. I stopped, afraid: It was the bad sign of some evil done: That stopping, too, right swiftly did I run; So did the shade. At length I drew Close to the bank of the delightful brook, And sitting in the moonshine, turn'd to look; It sat there too. Ere long I spied A weed with goodly flowers upon its top; And when I saw that such sweet things did drop Black shadows, cried, -- Lo! I have found, Hid in this ugly riddle, a good sign; My life is twofold, earthly and divine, -- Buried and crown'd. Sown darkly; raised Light within light, when death from mortal soil Undresses me, and makes me spiritual; -- Dear Lord, be praised. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVER MOURNS FOR THE LOSS OF LOVE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE LADY'S 'YES' by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING IN A GONDOLA by ROBERT BROWNING THE LORDS OF THE MAIN by JOSEPH STANSBURY TO A PRESIDENT by WALT WHITMAN THE WAKE OF THE KING OF SPAIN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |