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In Fancy's misty light；
Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam
Portentous through the night。
Upon its midnight battle…ground
The spectral camp is seen；
And； with a sorrowful； deep sound；
Flows the River of Life between。
No other voice nor sound is there；
In the army of the grave；
No other challenge breaks the air；
But the rushing of Life's wave。
And when the solemn and deep churchbell
Entreats the soul to pray；
The midnight phantoms feel the spell；
The shadows sweep away。
Down the broad Vale of Tears afar
The spectral camp is fled；
Faith shineth as a morning star；
Our ghastly fears are dead。
MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR
Yes； the Year is growing old；
And his eye is pale and bleared！
Death； with frosty hand and cold；
Plucks the old man by the beard；
Sorely； sorely！
The leaves are falling； falling；
Solemnly and slow；
Caw！ caw！ the rooks are calling；
It is a sound of woe；
A sound of woe！
Through woods and mountain passes
The winds； like anthems； roll；
They are chanting solemn masses；
Singing； 〃Pray for this poor soul；
Pray； pray！〃
And the hooded clouds； like friars；
Tell their beads in drops of rain；
And patter their doleful prayers；
But their prayers are all in vain；
All in vain！
There he stands in the foul weather；
The foolish； fond Old Year；
Crowned with wild flowers and with heather；
Like weak； despised Lear；
A king； a king！
Then comes the summer…like day；
Bids the old man rejoice！
His joy！ his last！ O； the man gray
Loveth that ever…soft voice；
Gentle and low。
To the crimson woods he saith；
To the voice gentle and low
Of the soft air； like a daughter's breath；
〃Pray do not mock me so！
Do not laugh at me！〃
And now the sweet day is dead；
Cold in his arms it lies；
No stain from its breath is spread
Over the glassy skies；
No mist or stain！
Then； too； the Old Year dieth；
And the forests utter a moan；
Like the voice of one who crieth
In the wilderness alone；
〃Vex not his ghost！〃
Then comes； with an awful roar；
Gathering and sounding on；
The storm…wind from Labrador；
The wind Euroclydon；
The storm…wind！
Howl！ howl！ and from the forest
Sweep the red leaves away！
Would； the sins that thou abhorrest；
O Soul！ could thus decay；
And be swept away！
For there shall come a mightier blast；
There shall be a darker day；
And the stars； from heaven down…cast
Like red leaves be swept away！
Kyrie； eleyson！
Christe； eleyson！
**********
EARLIER POEMS
AN APRIL DAY
When the warm sun； that brings
Seed…time and harvest； has returned again；
'T is sweet to visit the still wood； where springs
The first flower of the plain。
I love the season well；
When forest glades are teeming with bright forms；
Nor dark and many…folded clouds foretell
The coming…on of storms。
From the earth's loosened mould
The sapling draws its sustenance； and thrives；
Though stricken to the heart with winter's cold；
The drooping tree revives。
The softly…warbled song
Comes from the pleasant woods； and colored wings
Glance quick in the bright sun； that moves along
The forest openings。
When the bright sunset fills
The silver woods with light； the green slope throws
Its shadows in the hollows of the hills；
And wide the upland glows。
And when the eve is born；
In the blue lake the sky； o'er…reaching far；
Is hollowed out and the moon dips her horn；
And twinkles many a star。
Inverted in the tide
Stand the gray rocks； and trembling shadows throw；
And the fair trees look over； side by side；
And see themselves below。
Sweet April！ many a thought
Is wedded unto thee； as hearts are wed；
Nor shall they fail； till； to its autumn brought；
Life's golden fruit is shed。
AUTUMN
With what a glory comes and goes the year！
The buds of spring； those beautiful harbingers
Of sunny skies and cloudless times； enjoy
Life's newness； and earth's garniture spread out；
And when the silver habit of the clouds
Comes down upon the autumn sun； and with
A sober gladness the old year takes up
His bright inheritance of golden fruits；
A pomp and pageant fill the splendid scene。
There is a beautiful spirit breathing now
Its mellow richness on the clustered trees；
And； from a beaker full of richest dyes；
Pouring new glory on the autumn woods；
And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds。
Morn on the mountain； like a summer bird；
Lifts up her purple wing； and in the vales
The gentle wind； a sweet and passionate wooer；
Kisses the blushing leaf； and stirs up life
Within the solemn woods of ash deep…crimsoned；
And silver beech； and maple yellow…leaved；
Where Autumn； like a faint old man； sits down
By the wayside a…weary。 Through the trees
The golden robin moves。 The purple finch；
That on wild cherry and red cedar feeds；
A winter bird； comes with its plaintive whistle；
And pecks by the witch…hazel； whilst aloud
From cottage roofs the warbling blue…bird sings；
And merrily； with oft…repeated stroke；
Sounds from the threshing…floor the busy flail。
O what a glory doth this world put on
For him who； with a fervent heart； goes forth
Under the bright and glorious sky； and looks
On duties well performed； and days well spent！
For him the wind； ay； and the yellow leaves；
Shall have a voice； and give him eloquent teachings。
He shall so hear the solemn hymn that Death
Has lifted up for all； that he shall go
To his long resting…place without a tear。
WOODS IN WINTER。
When winter winds are piercing chill；
And through the hawthorn blows the gale；
With solemn feet I tread the hill；
That overbrows the lonely vale。
O'er the bare upland； and away
Through the long reach of desert woods；
The embracing sunbeams chastely play；
And gladden these deep solitudes。
Where； twisted round the barren oak；
The summer vine in beauty clung；
And summer winds the stillness broke；
The crystal icicle is hung。
Where； from their frozen urns； mute springs
Pour out the river's gradual tide；
Shrilly the skater's iron rings；
And voices fill the woodland side。
Alas！ how changed from the fair scene；
When birds sang out their mellow lay；
And winds were soft； and woods were green；
And the song ceased not with the day！
But still wild music is abroad；
Pale； desert woods！ within your crowd；
And gathering winds； in hoarse accord；
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud。
Chill airs and wintry winds！ my ear
Has grown familiar with your song；
I hear it in the opening year；
I listen； and it cheers me long。
HYMN OF