Impressions of a Traveller

In a silent, desolate spot,
In the night stone-frozen and clear,
The wanderer’s hand on the sail
Is gripped by the fingers of fear.

He looketh afar o’er the waves,
Wind-ruffled and deep and green;
And the mantle of Autumn lies
Over wood and hill and ravine.

’Tis Autumn! -- time of decay,
And the dead leaves’ ’wildering flight;
And the mantle of Autumn lies
On the wanderer’s soul to-night!