That Night

That night I sat listening, as in a swoon, With half-closed eyes, To far-off bells, low-lulling as a tune That drifts and dies Beneath the flowery fingers of the June Harping to summer skies.

And then I dreamed the world I knew was gone, And some one brought,-- Leading me far o'er sainted hill and lawn, In heavenly thought,-- My soul where well the sources of the dawn With dew and fire fraught.

Above me the majestic dome of night, With star on star, Sparkled; in which one star shone blinding bright; Radiant as spar That walls the halls of morning, pearly white Around her golden car.

About me temples, vast in desert seas, Columned a land Of ruins--bones of old monstrosities God's awful hand Had smitten; homes of dead idolatries, O'erwhelmed with dust and sand.

Their bestial gods, caked thick with gems and gold, Their blasphemies Of beauty, rent; 'mid ruined altars rolled; Their agonies And rites abolished; and their priests of old-- Dust on the desert breeze.

Then Syrian valleys, purple with veiling mist, Meseemed I trailed, Where the frail floweret, by the dewdrop kissed, Soft-blushing, quailed; And drowned in dingled deeps of amethyst The moon-mad bulbul wailed.

On glimmering wolds I seemed to hear the bleat Of folded flocks: Then shepherds passed me, bare of head and feet; And then an ox Lowed; and, above me, swept the solemn beat Of angel wings and locks.

A manger then I seemed to see where bent, In adoration, Above a babe, Men of the Orient, Where, low of station, His mother lay, while round them swam sweet scent And sounds of jubilation.

And then I woke. The rose-white moon above Bloomed on my sight;-- And in her train the stars of winter drove, Light upon light; While Yuletide bells rocked, pealing "peace and love" Down all the aisles of night.