Evening Twilight

Come with thy purple smiles, and bring
To nature quiet rest:
Come, gentle light of eve, and fling
The dew o'er nature's breast.

Send to the weary eye repose
And happy dreams to-night:
And bid the veil of darkness close
O'er holy love's delight.

The rose-tree hides its fairest flowers
While eve glides calmly by,
And life's most bright and blessed hours
Are hid in mystery.

I have a secret—but 'tis mine—
No word shall reach thine ear;
'Tis buried in my heart's own shrine,
And lock'd in safety there.

I will not tell my thought—nor shame
My maiden with a fear;
I will not tell my maiden's name
Nor what I feel for her.

I told it to the silent moon,
She saw my hour of bliss—
The tears of joy I shed—the boon,
The beauty and the kiss.