An August Twilight.
Now, while the evening mists above the ground1
Rise shoulder-high, and spread with swift increase,2
How stealthily the twilight steals around,3
Infolding all in the sweet zone of peace !4
One white star blinks beside the calm-faced moon,5
And one above the bar of silvery gray6
Within the west, which, slowly narrowing soon,7
Shews like a chink in the closed doors of day.8
And, as for love of these, one passionate bird9
Pours forth a passionate song so sad and sweet10
From the near dewy brake. The leaves are stirred11
With the faint pulsing airs that only beat,12
And do not blow ; while some sad dog’s deep bay13
Goes o’er the fields across the night away.14