Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/442

400 The slumbering sea with the day's impulse heaves,

While o'er the western hill retires the drowsy night.

The seabirds dip their bills in Ocean's foam,

Far circling out over the frothy waves,—

TO THE MAIDEN IN THE EAST

in the eastern sky

Is set thy glancing eye;

And though its gracious light

Ne'er riseth to my sight,

Yet every star that climbs

Above the gnarlèd limbs

Of yonder hill,

Conveys thy gentle will.

Believe I knew thy thought,

And that the zephyrs brought

Thy kindest wishes through,

As mine they bear to you;

That some attentive cloud

Did pause amid the crowd

Over my head,

While gentle things were said.

Believe the thrushes sung,

And that the flower-bells rung,

That herbs exhaled their scent,

And beasts knew what was meant,