The Comet and Other Verses by Irving Sidney Dix

Author:Irving Sidney Dix
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620134610
Publisher: Duke Classics

Norma

*

A Legend of the Wayne Highlands

Along the lake's wild northern shore

An island dark with trees

Lies shadow-like, and o'er and o'er

At midnight thru a leafy door

Comes music on the breeze,

Sweet music on the breeze,

Where sad-eyed Norma dreams,

And o'er the wave, in thru the trees

The mellow moonlight streams.

And Norma's voice is sweet to hear

As the breathing of a bell;

But while so welcome to the ear

Of any one afar or near,

The notes, O few can tell!

The notes, O few can tell!

Falling so wildly sweet,

Like the mournful ringing of a bell

With the tones still incomplete.

How came this maid upon the isle

Within the Hills of Wayne?

Why sings she sweetly all the while

As if to ease her self-denial?

Why sings she a refrain

At the lonely midnight hour

On an island dark with trees,

Enchanting souls unto her bower

By such sweet melodies?

The legend runs:—That long ago

A lover came to woo,

But left her—why?—(no man doth know)

For while her love like wine did flow

Away from her he drew—

He drew from her away,

While she was left forlorn

And ever (so the legends say)

Did daily for him mourn.

But Norma left her home one night

When all were fast asleep

And angel-like she trod the light

Moonpath across the waters bright

Until she ceased to weep,

Until she ceased to weep,

Singing a sweet, sweet song

That on the lake that lay asleep

The night-wind did prolong.

And after Norma's death, one day

A knock at her father's door

Announced the lad who went away

When both were lovers young and gay,

Who now would love her more

Than any other maid,

Yes, any other maid,

Saying, O where is Norma now,

Where is my sweetheart now?

O Youth, my daughter is not here—

She waited, waited long

To hear the voice she held more dear

Than all the rest—nor could we cheer

Her with another song;

But many hear her sing

By the island,—sing so sweet

That never, never can they bring

The song to me complete.

The lover sadly turned away

And vowed that he would know

The song complete e'er dawn of day

And followed where the moonpath lay

Upon the lake below,

Where Norma sang of love

On the island dark with trees

That cast deep shadows on the cove,

And his heart was ill at ease.

At midnight o'er the moonlit wave

He bent his little boat,

Till he heard the song the soft winds gave,

But if his life that song might save,

He could not tell a note!

He could not learn a note!

Tho' many, and many, and many a night

In the lovely moonpath gleaming bright

He listened from his boat.

But the song he never, never knew

Altho' he listened long,

And so it is—is ever true

When hearts withhold a love long due;

For Love sings one sweet song,

One sweet familiar song,

At thy heart's door today,

And knocking, waits, but waiting long

Forever turns away.

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