They woke me up, for my small eyes were tight Shut in night's first sweet sleep. 'We waken you,' They whispered, 'to behold the strangest sight: The seeing of such sights is given to few!' Far off upon the horizon's verge, the night, Which round our mountain hung so still and blue, Was diapered with little shoots of light That rose, and curved, and burst, as rockets do. I stirred in my small bed, and 'gan to plain Because they waked me. Then I heard them say: 'O God, the city will not live till day!' And lo, mine eyes were changed and 'gan to feast Not as in dreams or games on that bright rain, And, on the Night of Terror, childhood ceased! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE IRISH RAPPAREES; A PEASANT BALLAD OF 1691 by CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY BRIDAL BALLAD by EDGAR ALLAN POE AN ECHO FROM WILLOW-WOOD by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1877 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI BENEDICITE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE MORAL FABLES: THE SWALLOW, AND THE OTHER BIRDS by AESOP |