But through the twilight cold and still We heard the hum from yonder town; We saw the path around the hill Come winding ever slowly down.
The wild wind rose as night came on, We heard the waves beat on the shore; The tempest wailed and moaned about Above the distant roar.
Sad night, alas! was that to some Who, on the dreary ocean wide Heard far and near the tempest come-- The wailing winds on either side.
A dreadful night--a stormy night-- It swept the wrecks ashore; It was a time--a dreadful sight-- Forgotten nevermore.
That night was one of woe, alas! The wild wind whistled by; And seemed to be as it did pass Some struggling sailor’s drowning cry.
Far in the west is a peaceful land Where the golden sunset fades away, And fast as the twilight shadows come The sunset bids farewell to day.
The snow white vapor in fragments flies, And the gold-edged clouds near the sunset move; But the twilight, dim and dark and gray, Steals fast from sight this land of love.
The zephyrs stir and the soft leaves wave And sigh for the loss of the sunset sky; But even the beauties that shine in the west Must ever fade till the glories die.
In the distance dim a valley lies Where flows a deep dark river; On the farther shore a city stands, Where the tide flows on forever.
A cloud hangs o’er the city fair By day in the valley yonder; By night in the streets, devoid of light, Wild phantoms ever wander.
No sound comes forth from the vacant domes That gleam in the quiet air. No living thing breaks the solitude-- But the phantoms wander there.
In the distance dim a valley lies Where flows a rolling river, But the phantoms wander by its side As time flies by forever.
When the sunset in the west Gilds the landscape far and near Wraps the sun within his shroud Dies he on a glorious bier.
When the night falls o’er the land, Comes the cresent from the sky; Silence reigns upon the scene, As the brooklet hurries by.
When the starlight cold and still Falls upon the earth below-- Falls upon the church-yard hill, By the saddened brooklets flow.
Slower come the drifting waters Ceasing once their noisy glee. As it passes by it sings on In a plaintive melody.
Ghostly rise the marble spectres O’er the beds of those who sleep;-- Ever in the night or day time Still their solemn vigils keep.