Page:The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15.djvu/290

 Then over the lonely harbor, &emsp;&emsp;In the quiet and deadly cold Of a single night, when only the bright, &emsp;&emsp;Cold constellations behold, Without trestle or beam, without mortise or seam, &emsp;&emsp;It swiftly and silently spread A bridge as of steel, which a Titan's heel &emsp;&emsp;In the early light might tread.

Where Morning over the waters &emsp;&emsp;Her web of splendor spun, Till the wave, all a-twinkle with ripple and wrinkle, &emsp;&emsp;Hung shimmering in the sun,— Where the liquid lip at the breast of the ship &emsp;&emsp;Whispered and laughed and kissed, And the long, dark streamer of smoke from the steamer &emsp;&emsp;Trailed off in the rose-tinted mist,—

Now all is gray desolation, &emsp;&emsp;As up from the hoary coast, Over snow-fields and islands her white arms in silence &emsp;&emsp;Outspreading like a ghost, Her feet in shroud, her forehead in cloud, &emsp;&emsp;Pale walks the sheeted Dawn: The sea's blue rim lies shorn and dim, &emsp;&emsp;In the purple East withdrawn.

Where floated the fleets of commerce, &emsp;&emsp;With proud breasts cleaving the tide,— Like emmet or bug with its burden, the tug &emsp;&emsp;Hither and thither plied,— Where the quick paddles flashed, where the dropped anchor plashed, &emsp;&emsp;And rattled the running chain, Where the merchantman swung in the current, where sung &emsp;&emsp;The sailors their far refrain,—

Behold! when ruddy Aurora &emsp;&emsp;Peeps from her opening door, Faint gleams of the sun like fairies run &emsp;&emsp;And sport on a crystal floor; Upon the river's bright panoply quivers &emsp;&emsp;The noon's resplendent lance; And by night through the narrows the moon's slanted arrows &emsp;&emsp;Icily sparkle and glance.

Flown are the flocks of commerce, &emsp;&emsp;Like wild swans hurrying south; The lighter, belated, is frozen, full-freighted, &emsp;&emsp;Within the harbor's mouth; The brigantine, homeward bringing &emsp;&emsp;Sweet spices from afar, All night must wait with her fragrant freight &emsp;&emsp;Below the lighthouse star.