It's New Year's Eve and I had been out on the back porch, looking at the sparkling stars before they are hidden behind wintry clouds, listening to the wind blowing through the trees, feeling the cold on my face, waiting for the dusting of snow that is on its way tomorrow, or so they say. I came back in to the warmth of my home, to drink a cup of hot tea, and to look through some of the old 1800s books that I have in my collection ~ just enjoying the night ~ waiting for the New Year. While sitting here, I happened upon this poem in a book from 1853.
Thoughts at Midnight
The midnight winds are breathing now
A soft and gentle pray’r,
That floats like angel whisperings
Upon the silent air;
And flow’rs are weeping dewy tears,
And stars smile down in glee;
And now my thoughts will fondly turn
To thee, dear one --- to thee!
Earth’s weary ones now rest in peace,
And calmly, sweetly sleep;
While o’er the orphan angels bend,
And holy vigils keep:
The world is purer, better now,
And oh! I feel its pow’r
Steal o’er my heart in the deep hush
Of this calm, gentle hour.
Ah! wither do thy thoughts now roam?
Doest gaze on that fair star,
That twinkles in its azure home,
And think of one afar
Do straying zephyrs waft to thee
A whisper’d word or tone,
That thrills thy heart with gentle dreams,
And music, all its own?
But midnight o’er the sleeping world,
Hath toll’d its iron bell,
And thou, perchance, art resting too,
Beneath its holy spell:
Oh! may thy dreams be pure and sweet,
With innocence and glee;
While I bow down beneath the stars,
And breathe a pray’r for thee.
The midnight winds are breathing now
A soft and gentle pray’r,
That floats like angel whisperings
Upon the silent air;
And flow’rs are weeping dewy tears,
And stars smile down in glee;
And now my thoughts will fondly turn
To thee, dear one --- to thee!
Earth’s weary ones now rest in peace,
And calmly, sweetly sleep;
While o’er the orphan angels bend,
And holy vigils keep:
The world is purer, better now,
And oh! I feel its pow’r
Steal o’er my heart in the deep hush
Of this calm, gentle hour.
Ah! wither do thy thoughts now roam?
Doest gaze on that fair star,
That twinkles in its azure home,
And think of one afar
Do straying zephyrs waft to thee
A whisper’d word or tone,
That thrills thy heart with gentle dreams,
And music, all its own?
But midnight o’er the sleeping world,
Hath toll’d its iron bell,
And thou, perchance, art resting too,
Beneath its holy spell:
Oh! may thy dreams be pure and sweet,
With innocence and glee;
While I bow down beneath the stars,
And breathe a pray’r for thee.
by Clarence May ca.1853
While the entire poem is beautiful, the last 2 lines stayed in my thoughts:
"While I bow down beneath the stars,
And breathe a pray’r for thee."
Tonight, while out on the back porch, in the night air, before I came in the house and read this poem, I was thinking of all the wonderful, kind, thoughtful, gracious, caring, selfless, inspiring, loving souls that I have met over the past year. And while I stood out there alone, I thanked God for all of you. I thanked Him for sending someone to touch my life and my heart, especially during this past year. You may have become a dear, sweet friend, or you may have only passed by once and left a kind comment on my blog or by email. Whether I met you in person or online, I am so thankful for your friendship, your kind comments, your words of encouragement.
God Bless
&
Happy New Year!
Lana
of
Honeysuckle Lane
~*~
