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Poem
November 9, 1838
Western Enquirer
Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem celebrating the beauty of night, illuminated by stars and moonlight, with references to Orion and a melancholic association of moonlight with death and tombs.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The Creek Indians,
NIGHT.
How beautiful is Night!—'tis said—
Yes, when in starry escort led,
And silvered by the moon;
Her solemn azure's dark serene.
Light spangled canopies—a scene
Immersed in lunar gloom.
Friend to the mariner! Oh thou
Whose seven fold lustre decks the brow—
The polished brow of night
Aigrette of clustering brilliant—hail!
And beam on eyes that never fail
To view thee with delight.
Nor blame if admiration turn
To where Orion's splendors burn,
To light the southern sky?
His gem wrought belt and sparkling sword
And luminous extremes afford
A rich resplendency!
But chief to thee the Muse would tune
Her lyre of love—sweet Clair-de-Lune!
O how I love that light!
Mysterious, pensive, pale, severe—
'Tis but light's spectre, as it were,
Haunting the shades of night.
Behold yon tender gush of light
How wanly splendid—sadly bright—
How much akin to gloom!
Oh! glimpse to share a cloister's shade!—
To slumber in a cypress glade—
Or smile upon a tomb!
Is tomb an apt allusion?—say—
And night the shadowy death of day—
Dark, silent, solemn, chill—
Then moonlight paler—not a breath
Of sound relieves the night of death,
Pall-covered—cold and still!
NIGHT.
How beautiful is Night!—'tis said—
Yes, when in starry escort led,
And silvered by the moon;
Her solemn azure's dark serene.
Light spangled canopies—a scene
Immersed in lunar gloom.
Friend to the mariner! Oh thou
Whose seven fold lustre decks the brow—
The polished brow of night
Aigrette of clustering brilliant—hail!
And beam on eyes that never fail
To view thee with delight.
Nor blame if admiration turn
To where Orion's splendors burn,
To light the southern sky?
His gem wrought belt and sparkling sword
And luminous extremes afford
A rich resplendency!
But chief to thee the Muse would tune
Her lyre of love—sweet Clair-de-Lune!
O how I love that light!
Mysterious, pensive, pale, severe—
'Tis but light's spectre, as it were,
Haunting the shades of night.
Behold yon tender gush of light
How wanly splendid—sadly bright—
How much akin to gloom!
Oh! glimpse to share a cloister's shade!—
To slumber in a cypress glade—
Or smile upon a tomb!
Is tomb an apt allusion?—say—
And night the shadowy death of day—
Dark, silent, solemn, chill—
Then moonlight paler—not a breath
Of sound relieves the night of death,
Pall-covered—cold and still!
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Night Beauty
Moonlight
Orion Stars
Lunar Gloom
Death Allusion
Poem Details
Title
Night.
Key Lines
How Beautiful Is Night!—'Tis Said—
Yes, When In Starry Escort Led,
And Silvered By The Moon;
But Chief To Thee The Muse Would Tune
Her Lyre Of Love—Sweet Clair De Lune!
O How I Love That Light!
Is Tomb An Apt Allusion?—Say—
And Night The Shadowy Death Of Day—
Dark, Silent, Solemn, Chill—