| The sunset gun booms out in hollow roar Night breathes upon the waters of the bay The river lies, a symphony in grey, Melting in shadow on the further shore.
A sullen coal barge tugs its anchor chain A shadow sinister, with one faint light Flickering wanly in the dim twilight, It lies upon the harbor like a stain.
Silence. Then through the stillness rings The fretful echo of a seagull's scream, As if one cried who sees within a dream Deep rooted sorrow in the heart of things.
The cry that Sorrow knows and would complain And impotently struggle to express -- Some secret shame, some hidden bitterness -- Yet evermore must sing the same refrain.
Silence once more. The air seems in a swoon Beneath the heavens' thousand opening eyes While from the far horizon's edge arise The first faint silvery tresses of the moon. |