I.

That was I, you heard last night, When there rose no moon at all, Nor, to pierce the strained and tight Tent of heaven, a planet small:

Life was dead and so was light.

II.

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.

III.

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.

IV.

What they could my words expressed, O my love, my all, my one!

Singing helped the verses best, And when singing's best was done, To my lute I left the rest.

V.

So wore night; the East was gray, White the broad-faced hemlock-flowers:

There would be another day;

Ere its first of heavy hours Found me, I had passed away.

VI.

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, VII.

``One friend in that path shall be, ``To secure my step from wrong;``One to count night day for me, ``Patient through the watches long, ``Serving most with none to see.''

VIII.

Never say---as something bodes---``So, the worst has yet a worse!

``When life halts 'neath double loads, ``Better the taskmaster's curse ``Than such music on the roads!

IX.

``When no moon succeeds the sun, ``Nor can pierce the midnight's tent ``Any star, the smallest one, ``While some drops, where lightning rent, ``Show the final storm begun---X.

``When the fire-fly hides its spot, ``When the garden-voices fail ``In the darkness thick and hot,---``Shall another voice avail, ``That shape be where these are not?

XI.

``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?''

XII.

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!