Cool breezes blow about me, and I hear
The mellow bells of distant churches chime.
I wander on, with never thought of fear,
Secure as in some peaceful heav'nly clime.
Majestic, mystic things seem close and clear,
And all my soul is wrapt in thoughts sublime.
SHADOW DANCE
We two sat watching the shadows dance,
(Long years had passed since we were young),
And o'er the days that had fled there hung
A mist of sorrow and sad romance.
From out the gloom of an old stone wall,
The moon drew creatures of wondrous shape,
And none of our lost dreams could escape,
A cruel magic revealed them all.
They bowed and swayed with a mocking grace,
And held our gaze as they flitted by;
Our deep-drawn breaths were our sole reply,
As one by one we beheld each face.
A dream of Wealth and a dream of Fame,
And Love's dream, these were the foremost three,
Each with its shadowy train, till we
Could greet the phantoms of youth by name.
Our faces paled and we trembled there,
Watching the shadows dance on the wall;
Wealth, Fame and Love—we had missed them all,
And Sorrow's chalice had been our share.
But there was hope and we still had life,
And hearts are brave that the years have tried;
We looked in each other's eyes and sighed,
Sad, pain-filled eyes, but free of strife.
Dance on, gaunt shadows, beside the wall,
We shrink from you in your cruel mirth;
But what are you and the dreams of Earth?
Our hard-won peace is worth them all.