Night Blooming Cereus [pp. 628]

NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS.
THE night is fair-too fair for us to stay,
Close-curtained from the soft arid radiant light.
We wander forth to breathe the sweet sea breeze,
Where on the road the shadows of the palms
Make soundless music, as we slowly pass,
By gentle swaying.
Lo, and what is this?
Is this a banquet for the gods outspread
Upon this lichen-covered wall? There lies
The knotted, creeping cactus, loosely flung
Upon the lava stones. Upon it stand
A thousand glistening goblets, flared at brim,
And turning toward the moon. The cups of white
Are set on scaly necks of greenish gray;
And trembling in their gleaming lip-curved bowls,
Is-scented gold? nay;- amber wine?- no, no,
'T is rather moonlight trapped, or odor seen.
Ah! goblets rare, I know that when the light
Shall come at morn, ye shall be overturned,
And drained of all the glory of tonight.
Mary Dillinghani Frear.
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