MY father's house once more, In its own moonlight beauty! Yet around, Something, amidst the dewy calm profound, Broods, never marked before! Is it the brooding night? Is it the shivery creeping on the air, That makes the home so tranquil and so fair, O'erwhelming to my sight? All solemnized it seems, And stilled, and darkened in each time-worn hue, Since the rich, clustering roses met my view, As now, by starry gleams. And this high elm, where last I stood and lingered -- where my sisters made Our mother's bower -- I deemed not that it cast So far and dark a shade! How spirit-like a tone Sighs through yon tree! My father's place was there At evening hours, while soft winds waved his hair! Now those gray locks are gone! My soul grows faint with fear! Even as if angel-steps had marked the sod. I tremble where I move -- the voice of God Is in the foliage here! Is it indeed the night That makes my home so awful? Faithless-hearted! 'Tis that from thine own bosom hath departed The inborn, gladdening light! No outward thing is changed; Only the joy of purity is fled, And, long from nature's melodies estranged, Thou hear'st their tones with dread. Therefore the calm abode, By thy dark spirit, is o'erhung with shade; And therefore, in the leaves, the voice of God Makes thy sick heart afraid! The night-flowers round that door Still breathe pure fragrance on the untainted air; Thou, thou alone art worthy now no more To pass, and rest thee there! And must I turn away? -- Hark, hark! -- it is my mother's voice I hear -- Sadder than once it seemed -- yet soft and clear; -- Doth she not seem to pray? My name! -- I caught the sound! Oh! blessed tone of love -- the deep, the mild! Mother! my mother! now receive thy child: Take back the lost and found! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 4 by THOMAS CAMPION THE OWL CRITIC by JAMES THOMAS FIELDS AGAMEMNON: THE PURPLE CARPER by AESCHYLUS RUINS OF CORINTH by ANTIPATER OF SIDON EPILOGUE TO LESSING'S LAOCOON by MATTHEW ARNOLD |