Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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     The night is hung above us, love,
     With heavy stars that love us, love,
    With clouds that curl in purple and pearl,
     And winds that whisper of us, love:
    On burly hills and valleys, that lie dimmer,
    The amber foot-falls of the moon-sylphs glimmer.

     The moon is still a crescent, love;
     And here with thee 'tis pleasant, love,
    To sit and dream in its thin gleam,
     And list thy sighs liquescent, love:
    To see thy eyes and fondle thy dark tresses,
    Set on warm lips imperishable kisses.

     The sudden-glaring fire-flies
     Swim o'er the hollow gyre-wise,
    And spurt and shine like jostled wine
     At lips on which desire lies:
    Or like the out-flashed hair of elf or fairy
    In rapid morrice whirling feat and airy.

     Up, - all the blue West sundering, - 
     A creamy cloud comes blundering
    O'er star and steep, and opening deep
     Grows gold with silent thundering:
    Gold flooding crystal crags immeasurable,
    Lost Avalons of old Romance and Fable.

     The bee dreams in the cherry bloom
     That sways above the berry bloom;
    The katydid grates where she's hid
     In leafy deeps of dreary gloom:
    The forming dew is globing on the grasses,
    Like rich spilled gems of some dark queen that passes.

     The mere brief gusts are wrinkling;
     A thousand ripples twinkling
    Have caught the stars on polished spars
     Their rustling ridges sprinkling:
    And all the shadow lurking in its bosom
    Is touched and bursten into golden blossom.

     Stoop! and my being flatter, love;
     With sudden starlight scatter, love,
    From the starry grace of thy rare face,
     Whose might can make or shatter, love!
    Come, raiment love in love's own radiant garments.
    And kindle all my soul to rapturous torments!

     Bow all thy beauty to me, love,
     Lips, eyes, and hair to woo me, love,
    As bows and blows some satin rose
     Snow-soft and tame, that knew thee, love.
    Unto the common grass, that worshiping cowers,
    Dowering its love with all her musk of flowers.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a lyrical exploration of love set against the backdrop of a richly detailed night scene. It captures the depth and intensity of romantic emotion with a seamless blend of natural and celestial imagery. The theme of love is the central thread that weaves through each stanza, punctuated by the recurrent phrase "love," subtly echoing like a gentle refrain.

The tone is passionate, almost hypnotic, with a rhythm that lulls the reader into the dreamy landscape. The structure is consistent and rhythmic, contributing to the overall flow. In terms of literary devices, the poet utilizes simile, as in "like jostled wine," and personification, such as "amber foot-falls of the moon-sylphs," to create vivid, tangible images. The poem is also thick with alliteration ("burly hills," "dreams in the cherry bloom"), which lends a harmonious cadence to the lines.

The poet skillfully employs imagery to create a sensual and almost mystical atmosphere. The night is not just a passive backdrop, but an active participant in the poem, its elements reflecting and augmenting the emotions of the lovers. The poet takes everyday elements—stars, clouds, the moon—and suffuses them with symbolic meaning, making them mirrors of the lovers' states of mind. The poem is not just a declaration of love, but an invitation to the reader to experience it in its most intimate and profound form.