Night on the Mountain

Now sleep the lights of village, every one,

The last lone walker to his door gone home,

The last late watcher at his mill wheel done.

Now in the silent streets small shadows roam,

People the hollow hour, the vacant square,

Old walls, the ancient roofs, the soundless road.

Stars ride the windy reaches of the air.

A wasted moon moves to its cold abode.

On rocky hills, on broken pasture face

How like dark angels from an older time

The trees keep guard, each in familiar place,

While slow night lengthens and the shadows climb,

Looking far down the earth where valleys sweep

Deep in the peace of silence, deep in sleep.