A Summer Night

Her mist of primroses within her breast     Twilight hath folded up, and o'er the west,     Seeking remoter valleys long hath gone,     Not yet hath come her sister of the dawn.     Silence and coolness now the earth enfold:     Jewels of glittering green, long mists of gold,     Hazes of nebulous silver veil the height,     And shake in tremors through the shadowy night.     Heard through the stillness, as in whispered words,     The wandering God-guided wings of birds     Ruffle the dark. The little lives that lie     Deep hid in grass join in a long-drawn sigh     More softly still; and unheard through the blue     The falling of innumerable dew,     Lifts with grey fingers all the leaves that lay     Burned in the heat of the consuming day.     The lawns and lakes lie in this night of love,     Admitted to the majesty above.     Earth with the starry company hath part;     The waters hold all heaven within their heart,     And glimmer o'er with wave-lips everywhere     Lifted to meet the angel lips of air.     The many homes of men shine near and far;     Peace-laden as the tender evening star,     The late home-coming folk anticipate     Their rest beyond the passing of the gate,     And tread with sleep-filled hearts on drowsy feet.     Oh, far away and wonderful and sweet     All this, all this. But far too many things     Obscuring, as a cloud of seraph wings     Blinding the seeker for the Lord behind,     I fall away in weariness of mind,     And think how far apart are I and you,     Beloved, from those spirit children who     Felt but one single Being long ago,     Whispering in gentleness and leaning low     Out of its majesty, as child to child.     I think upon it all with heart grown wild.     Hearing no voice, howe'er my spirit broods.     No whisper from the dense infinitudes,     This world of myriad things whose distance awes.     Ah me; how innocent our childhood was!