Over forest and meadow the night breeze is stealing,
The blush of the sunset is glowing no more--
And the stream which we love, harmless fires revealing,
With ripples of silver is kissing the shore.
I have watched from the beach which your presence enchanted,
In the star-lighted heaven each beautiful gem,
And I sighed as I thought, ere the break of the morning,
From the gaze of my eyes you must vanish like them.
Then stay where the night breeze o'er flowers is stealing,
And raise your young voices in music once more;
Let them blend with the stream, its soft murmurs revealing
In the ripples of silver which roll to the shore.
But when summer has fled, and yon flowers have faded,
And the fields and the forests are withered and sere--
When the friends now together, by distance are parted,
Leaving nothing but winter and loneliness here;
Will you think of the hour, when in friendship united,
I lingered at evening to bid you adieu;
When I paused by the stream, with the stars so delighted,
And wished I might linger for ever with you?
Oh, forget not the time when that night breeze was stealing,
Though desolate oceans between us may roar,
The beach--and the stars--and the waters revealing
Thoughts bright as the ripples which break on the shore.