The veil is thin between The seen and the unseen— Thinner to-night than the transparent air; All heaven and earth are still, Save when from some far hill Floateth the nightbird's unavailing prayer; Up from the mountain bars Climb the slow, patient stars, Only to faint in moonlight white and rare! Ere earth had grown too wise To commerce with the skies, On this midsummer night the men of old Believed the dead drew near, Believed that they could hear Voices long silent speaking from the mould, Believed whoever slept Unearthly vigil kept Where his own death-knell should at last be tolled. In solemn midnight marches Beneath dark forest arches They fancied that their hungry souls found God; His angels clad in light Stole softly through the night, Leaving no impress on the yielding sod, And bore to mortal ears Tidings from other spheres, The undiscovered way no man hath trod. Ah! what if it were true? Then would I call ye who Have one by one beyond my vision flown; I would set wide the door Ye enter now no more Crying, "Come in from out the void unknown! Come as ye came of old Laden with love untold"— Hark! was that nothing but the night wind's moan? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ENGLISH GRAVEYARD IN MALACCA by KAREN SWENSON AN ODE ON THE UNVEILING OF THE SHAW MEMORIA BOSTON COMMON, MAY 31, 1897 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH NURSE'S SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE TENTH MUSE: THE PROLOGUE by ANNE BRADSTREET COLOGNE; EPIGRAM by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE LUKE HAVERGAL by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 8. TO MINNIE (WITH A HAND-GLASS) by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |