No moon was there, nor light of any star!
Night dropped her poppies o'er life's woe and mirth,
When heard I strains all silver-sweet, from far
Dim reaches sweeping softly 'round the earth;
And my most lonely soul unto that sound
Leaned listening, intent, if there might be
One lost chord, haply, in its cadence found
T' attune my heart to higher minstrelsy,
When lo! Through space a vast dim bell there swung,
Whose fine and full vibrations softly woke
The far, faint echoes of the vanished years,
As more and more remotely it was rung,
While on the shore of Memory there broke
The lapsing waves of Passion, salt with tears!