LESSON 48 TWILIGHT

TWILIGHT

1. The twilight [1] is sad and cloudy,

The wind blows wild and free,

And like the wings of sea-birds

Flash the white caps [2] of the sea.

THE FISHERMAN AT SEA

2. But in the fisherman's cottage

There shines a ruddier [3] light,

And a little face at the window

Peers out into the night.

3. Close, close it is pressed to the window,

As if those childish eyes

Were looking into the darkness

To see some form arise.

4. And a woman's waving shadow

Is passing to and fro,

Now rising to the ceiling,

Now bowing and bending low.

5. Wh at tale do the roaring ocean

And the night-wind bleak [4] and wild,

As they beat at the crazy [5] casement [6] ,

Tell to that little child?

6. An d why do the roaring ocean

And the night-wind wild and bleak,

As they beat to the heart of the mother,

Drive the colour from her cheek?

—H. W. LONGFELLOW

* * *

[1] twilight: The time between sunset and night.

[2] white caps: The foam on the tops of the waves.

[3] ruddier: Brighter.

[4] bleak: Cold.

[5] crazy: Loose; weak.

[6] casement: Window.