Summer Lightning

Like a dawn the distant lightning, Fitful, shadow-crowned, O’er the twilit ocean brightening Breaks without a sound.

Softly-fair the clouds are riven Crimsoning in bliss, As the heights and depths of heaven Open to its kiss.

Calm in western lake-like splendour Floats the star of eve: All hues opaline and tender Round about it weave;

And that other crystal ocean Holds its image clear, Like a smile with soft emotion Shining through a tear.

Faintly rings a silver laughter As the ripples die, And the rising stars thereafter Answer, and their cry,

As of love to passion risen, Passes o’er the strand From Night’s gloomy eastern prison To the golden land

Where flushed Eve with shining fingers For an instant keeps Back the curtained dark, and lingers, Lovely, ere she sleeps.

So upon the beachy margent Love a moment stands, Takes the ocean and the argent Starlight on the sands;

Takes the sunset slowly whitening From its golden bloom, Takes the cloud-girt summer lightning And the distant gloom; Orbs them all from world-mutation, Whole and unforgot, Into his divine creation Of immortal thought;

Where, like essences supernal, They nor pass nor range, Lifted high in Love’s eternal O’er eternal change.

NAPLES, 1873.