Night in a Canoe
A dreary world! The constant rain
Beats back to earth blithe fancy’s wings;
And life—a sodden garment—clings
About a body numb with pain.
Imagination ceased with light;
Of Nature’s psalm no echo lingers.
The death-cold mist, with ghostly fingers,
Shrouds world and soul in rayless night.
An inky sea, a sullen crew,
A frail canoe’s uncertain motion;
A whispered talk of wind and ocean,
As plotting secret crimes to do!
The vampire-night sucks all my blood;
Warm home and love seem lost for aye;
From cloud to cloud I steal away,
Like guilty soul o’er Stygian flood.
Peace, morbid heart! From paddle blade
See the black water flash in light;
And bars of moonbeams streaming white,
Have pearls of ebon raindrops made.
From darkest sea of deep despair
Gleams Hope, awaked by Action’s blow;
And Faith’s clear ray, though clouds hang low,
Slants up to heights serene and fair.