Athwart the star-lit midnight sky Luminous fleecy clouds drift by, As the mysterious, pallid moon Sinks in the waveless still lagoon. Now that the queen of night is dead, The starry commonwealth o'erhead (Softer and fairer than gaudy day) Sheds lustrous light from the Milky Way; While the Dog-star gleams, and the Sisters Seven, Float tremulously in the misty heaven. Faintly, afar the horse-bells ring; Myriads of wakened crickets sing; And the spirit voices of the night Sing snatches of fairy music bright, Old-world melodies - lang syne sung - Recalling days when the heart was young, Whose wonderful cadences fall and rise, As the wind in the casuarina sighs; And the world seems 'gulfed, this summer night, In a flood of delicious, dreamy light.
First published in The Bulletin, 26 December 1891.
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