274 NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE. 



NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE. 



I. 



The sable garb of darkness clothes the land, 

 And twihght's sickly hue bids day farewell ; 



The prairie's vast expanse on either hand 

 Marks solitude's domain. O'er hill and dell, 



And wide-extended plain, I cast my eyes. 



To view, perchance, some grove or fav'ring stream, 

 And hie me thitherward while yet the gleam 



Of day's fast-failing light bepaints the skies 



With tints scarce seen, — tor there I'd seek repose, — 



But for them look in vain ; so here, alone, 

 Wearied and worn, I sit me down and close 



My tiresome wanderings, — nor bate to own 

 The chilling thrill of terror o'er me creeps. 

 And from my mind all thoughts of slumber keeps ! 



n. 



Oh, Solitude ! First-born of Night ! 'Tis here 

 Thy reign is undisputed ! Here no noise 



Of human feet doth greet thy list'ning ear, — 

 Save chance as mine, or savage want enjoys 



His arms at chase or rage at bloody war ! — 



Here haunts the beast of prey. The starved wolfs howl 

 In ceaseless concert swells ! The midnight owl 



Joins in his dolesome lay ; — the raven's caw 



Loud mingles with the panther's yell, — and then 



The hoarse-toned bison grunts his bass, and makes 

 Thy dismal realm more drear to lonely men. 



iEolus here his fresh-form'd wind awakes, 



And marks its speed unchecked ; whose whistling moan 

 O'er thy domain makes loneliness more lone ! . 



in. 



My thoughts, now kindred to the scene, arise 

 In hurried flight, whose hideous aspects wake, 



Full quick, imagination's sleepless eyes. 



That conjure up such frightful forms as shake 



The boldest hearts with dread. In every herb 



Of prouder growth, — whose prongs the sweeping blast 

 Hath taught to move. — some foe of savage cast 



Appears and threatens ill, as if to curb 



The onward progress of the god of sleep : — 



(For here man sees his fellow man, unknown, 

 As foe ; and, arm'd for fight, he minds to keep 



The strictest watch, lest, from advantage shown. 

 He tempt unlucky war.) So hurriedly 

 I snatch my arms to fight each form I see ! 



