LAKE WINNEPESEOGEE
(TWILIGHT)
O fair, broad Lake, upon whose breast
The shifting shadows rise and fall,
Thy surging waters' vague unrest
Sinks beneath twilight's gathering pall.
Thy changing beauties quickly glide
Successive past th' entrancéd eye,
While hills around, in regal pride,
Reflected in thy waters lie.
I hear the plash of dipping oar,
I see the boats swing on their way;
The waves flow on from shore to shore,
While softly, slowly dies the day.
And sweetly with the evening's calm
Upon my heart there falls a peace,
That comes as comes the evening psalm,
That bids the world's vain tumult cease.
And as fall swift the shades of night
Along the path my feet must tread,
Lo! through the clouds a golden light
Upon Life's passing scene is shed.
And so, bathed in its softened glow,
And tuned to sweetest harmonies
Far, far beyond Life's ebb and flow—
The soul, immortal, seeks the skies!