Song of the Twilight Fairies
Vestal moon, vestal moon,
Star of Love’s delight,
Rise, and gild our festal noon—
Noon of Fairy-night.
Vestal moon, vestal moon,
Up the golden height,
Thou art rising to thy noon—
We to Love’s delight.
Fairies hide in cowslip bells
Through the garish light;
Naiads rest in purple shells,
By the sea-marge bright.
Fairy-Queen, appear, appear,
From thy citron nest;
Wake, wake! come, Sweet, for here
Shines the moonlight blest.
Golden Fairies in the sun
Wind their elfin horn,
Where the dancing streamlets run,
And the Day is born.
Silver fairies haunt the night
When the Sun’s asleep;
Azure Fays the heavenly height,
’Mid the starry sheep.
Fays of Silver, Gold, and Blue
Wake to Love’s delight;
Drink your fill of sweet May-dew,
Chase the star-flakes bright.
Lo! we come, we come, we come,
From the foxglove bells,
Some from golden brake, and some
From the asphodels.
Vestal moon, vestal moon,
From your golden height,
Gaze through all the fairy noon
On our Love’s delight.
Thomas Lake Harris.