A vision of life

by Darrell Figgis

A spiritous Presence passed, and on my thought

Visions of faded days, paled friendships, dreams

Of rapturous Mays smitten to drear Decembers,

In evanescent postures wrought

From forth the flickering gleams.

So death-still ranged the Night athwart the gloom

Icy and cavernous, that the embers’ tune

Spake sharp and sudden, chasing the shade and flame

In elfish gambol round the sombre room.

So stepped the Night’s high noon;