Last night-- how deep the darkness was! <br />And well I knew its depths, because <br />I waded it from shore to shore, <br />Thinking to reach the light no more. <br /> <br />She would not even touch my hand---. <br />The winds rose and the cedars fanned <br />The moon out, and the stars fled back <br />In heaven and hid-- and all was black! <br /> <br />But ah! To-night a summons came, <br />Signed with a tear-drop for a name, <br />For as I wondering kissed it, lo <br />A line beneath it told me so. <br /> <br />And now-- the moon hangs over me <br />A disk of dazzling brilliancy, <br />And every star-tip stabs my sights <br />With splintered glitterings of light!<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/last-night-and-this/
