A SERENADE AT THE VILLA. 1. THAT was I, you heard last night 2. Not a twinkle from the fly, Not a glimmer from the worm. When the crickets stopped their cry, When the owls forbore a term, You heard music; that was I. 3. Earth turned in her sleep with pain, Sultrily suspired for proof: In at heaven and out again, Lightning!-where it broke the roof, Bloodlike, some few drops of rain. 4. What they could my words expressed, So wore night; the east was gray, White the broad-faced hemlock flowers; Soon would come another day; Ere its first of heavy hours. Found me, I had past away. 6. What became of all the hopes, Words and song and lute as well? Say, this struck you "When life gropes Feebly for the path where fell Light last on the evening slopes, 7. "One friend in that path shall be Never say 8. as something bodes "So the worst has yet a worse! When life halts 'neath double loads, Better the task-master's curse Than such music on the roads! 9. "When no moon succeeds the sun, Nor can pierce the midnight's tent Any star, the smallest one, While some drops, where lightning went, Show the final storm begun - 10. "When the fire-fly hides its spot, 11. "Has some plague a longer lease Proffering its help uncouth? Can't one even die in peace? As one shuts one's eyes on youth, Is that face the last one sees?" 12. Oh, how dark your villa was, Windows fast and obdurate! How the garden grudged me grass Where I stood the iron gate Ground its teeth to let me pass! MY STAR. ALL that I know Of a certain star, Is, it can throw (Like the angled spar) Now a dart of red, Now a dart of blue, Till my friends have said They would fain see, too, My star that dartles the red and the blue! Then it stops like a bird, — like a flower, hangs furled; They must solace themselves with the Saturn above it. What matter to me if their star is a world? Mine has opened its soul to me; therefore I love it. |