Classic Poem

FROM a vision of fright,
I woke in the night,
And lay and listened long;
But I only heard the crowing cock,
And the hollow stroke of the midnight clock,
And the sleepers breathing strong.

Whether it was the witching time,
Or something recently read
Of a horrible novelty of crime,
And the number of men found dead—
I shuddered, I shook at the the noise of a mouse,
And could not close my weary eyes,
But I seemed to hear the muffled cries
Of murder, in the house!

I drew the casement curtain aside,
And gazed on the midnight heaven—
On the myriad systems sprinkled wide,
And the sisterly Pleiades seven—
Luminous over the beautiful sea,
Looking like souls that were just forgiven,
And smilingly chiding me!
“Ah fool! ah, weak of faith,” I said,
“The angels are watching thee overhead;
And however men pass the day or night,
By the Merciful One all is ordered aright!”