DECEMBER.
DEAD lonely night and all streets quiet now,
Thin o’er the moon the hindmost cloud swims past
Of that great rack that brought us up the snow;
On earth strange shadows o’er the snow are cast;
Pale stars, bright moon, swift cloud make heaven so vast
That earth left silent by the wind of night
Seems shrunken ’neath the grey unmeasured height.
Ah! through the hush the looked-for midnight clangs!
And then, e’en while its last stroke's solemn drone
In the cold air by unlit windows hangs,
Out break the bells above the year foredone,
Change, kindness lost, love left unloved alone;
Till their despairing sweetness makes thee deem
Thou once wert loved, if but amidst a dream.
O thou who clingest still to life and love,
Though nought of good, no God thou mayst discern,
Though nought that is, thine utmost woe can move,
Though no soul knows wherewith thine heart doth yearn,
Yet, since thy weary lips no curse can learn,
Cast no least thing thou lovedst once away,
Since yet perchance thine eyes shall see the day.
My masters! if about the troublous sea
