I.
Between the rose's and the canna's crimson,
Beneath her window in the night I stand;
The jeweled dew hangs little stars, in rims, on
The white moonflowers--each a spirit hand
That points the path to mystic shadowland.
Awaken, sweet and fair!
And add to night thy grace!
Suffer its loveliness to share
The white moon of thy face,
The darkness of thy hair.
Awaken, sweet and fair!
II.
A moth, like down, swings on th' althæa's pistil,--
Ghost of a tone that haunts its bell's deep dome;--
And in the August-lily's cone of crystal
A firefly blurs, the lantern of a gnome,
Green as a gem that gleams through hollow foam.
Approach! the moment flies!
Thou sweetheart of the South!
Come! mingle with night's mysteries
The red rose of thy mouth,
The starlight of thine eyes.--
Approach! the moment flies!
III.
Dim through the dusk, like some unearthly presence,
Bubbles the Slumber-song of some wild bird;
And with it borne, faint on a breeze-sweet essence,
The rainy murmur of a fountain's heard--
As if young lips had breathed a perfumed word.
How long, my love, my bliss!
How long must I await
With night,--that all impatience is,--
Thy greeting at the gate,
And at the gate thy kiss?
How long, my love, my bliss!
