Reverie: Zahir-u-Din

Alone, I wait, till her twilight gate
    The Night slips quietly through,
With shadow and gloom, and purple bloom,
    Flung over the Zenith blue.

Her stars that tremble, would fain dissemble
    Light over lovers thrown, -
Her hush and mystery know no history
    Such as day may own.
Day has record of pleasure and pain,
But things that are done by Night remain
    For ever and ever unknown.

For a thousand years, 'neath a thousand skies,
    Night has brought men love;
Therefore the old, old longings rise
    As the light grows dim above.

Therefore, now that the shadows close,
    And the mists weird and white,
While Time is scented with musk and rose;
    Magic with silver light.

I long for love; will you grant me some?
    Day is over at last.
Come! as lovers have always come,
    Through the evenings of the Past.
Swiftly, as lovers have always come,
Softly, as lovers have always come
    Through the long-forgotten Past.