I love thee, thou calm and beautiful Night, The last of the passing year; Though thy mein is solemn, thine eyes are bright,— Too proud to confess a tear! Though thy robe is of mourning, 'tis 'broidered with pearls, And, as onward and westward each hour unfurls Thy banner of sable hue, In fold upon fold o'er the sinking day, Driving the gleam in the west away, Fresh glories arise on my view! And each bright star as it joins the array, In a silent voice, though clear, Murmureth sweetly a solemn lay,— The dirge of the dying year! I bare my brow to thee, beautiful Night! I list to the dirge that the stars are singing Over the Spirit now taking flight, But I cannot join it,—my heart is light. Bright hopes arise 'Mid sunny skies, And joy-bells in my soul are ringing! I love thee, O Night! thou art Queen of Space! Thy diadem Time and Eternity grace; But I cannot mourn for the dying year. Why should I?—He did little good to his age,— He has written his name upon history's page In letters of wrath and fear. With a gloomy margin of black, It is written in characters red; And never the name of this year shall lack An interest wild and dread! He hath dimmed full many an eye, He hath broken up many a home, He hath played with the lives of the good and brave, As the wind with the light sea foam. And so let the Old Year die, And go to eternal rest; A hope throbs out of the eastern sky,— "New things are ever the best!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AVIENUS: TO HIS FRIENDS by RUFUS FESTUS AVIENUS ADDRESS TO A STEAM-VESSEL by JOANNA BAILLIE TO A WITHERED ROSE by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS THE PAVANE by DORIS ELLEN BIESTERFELD EPISTLE TO HER FRIENDS AT GARTMORE by SUSANNA BLAMIRE REVERY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD TREE WORSHIP by HELEN BURWELL CHAPIN TO A YOUNG LADY, WITH A POEM ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |