New Moon E-book

                                      1832
                                  THE NEW MOON

                            by William Cullen Bryant









Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)



                      THE NEW MOON
-
         When, as the garish day is done,
         Heaven burns with the descended sun,
             'Tis passing sweet to mark
         Amid that flush of crimson light,
         The new moon's modest bow grow bright,
             As earth and sky grow dark.
-
         Few are the hearts too cold to feel
         A thrill of gladness o'er them steal,
             When first the wandering eye
         Sees faintly, in the evening blaze
         That glimmering curve of tender rays
             Just planted in the sky.
-
         The sight of that young crescent brings
         Thoughts of all fair and youthful things-
             The hopes of early years;
         And childhood's purity and grace,
         And joys that like a rainbow chase
             The passing shower of tears.
-
                                                     
         The captive yields him to the dream
         Of freedom, when that virgin beam
             Comes out upon the air;
         And painfully the sick man tries
         To fix his dim and burning eyes
             On the sweet promise there.
-
         Most welcome to the lover's sight
         Glitters that pure, emerging light;
             For prattling poets say,
         That sweetest is the lovers' walk,
         And tenderest is their murmured talk,
             Beneath its gentle ray.
-
         And there do graver men behold
         A type of errors, loved of old,
             Forsaken and forgiven;
         And thoughts and wishes not of earth
         Just opening in their early birth,
             Like that new light in heaven.
                                                     
-
-
                        THE END