Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/442

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400
POEMS

The slumbering sea with the day's impulse heaves,
While o'er the western hill retires the drowsy night.


The seabirds dip their bills in Ocean's foam,
Far circling out over the frothy waves,—

· · · · · · · · ·


TO THE MAIDEN IN THE EAST[1]

Low in the eastern sky
Is set thy glancing eye;
And though its gracious light
Ne'er riseth to my sight,
Yet every star that climbs
Above the gnarlèd limbs
Of yonder hill,
Conveys thy gentle will.


Believe I knew thy thought,
And that the zephyrs brought
Thy kindest wishes through,
As mine they bear to you;
That some attentive cloud
Did pause amid the crowd
Over my head,
While gentle things were said.


Believe the thrushes sung,
And that the flower-bells rung,
That herbs exhaled their scent,

And beasts knew what was meant,
  1. [Five stanzas of this poem appear in Week, pp. 46, 47.]