Moonlight

Oh, what so subtle as the spell The silvery moonlight weaves? Oh, what so sad and what so glad, And what so soon deceives.

A vision of the long ago— Long years of pain between; A mocking dream of happier days— A veil of silver sheen.

A passing gleam of falling stars— An idle summer's dream; The sudden waking of a heart— Things are not as they seem.

Oh, silver moon, indeed you hold The secrets of the heart; And none can know and none can guess The mystery of thy art.

A silver length of rippling waves, A glance from happy eyes; A strain of music low and sweet— The heart in rapture lies.

Yet, ah, how faithless are the vows Made 'neath the summer moon; As changing as the falling rays That fade away as soon.

For love is like the subtle spell The sliver moonlight weaves; And what so sad and what so glad And what so soon deceives?