Verses (Do I not love at midnight to gaze forth)

Do I not love at midnight to gaze forthUpon the hallowed skies, and front then beautyDrink solemn thoughts of purity and love,Then sacred light conveying imagesOf a more holy presence—even of Him,All light,all purity? Do I not loveTo send my thoughts beyond those crystal vaults,Far into the deep heavens, to those calm homesThat wait the spirit, here beatifiedBy human griefs and sufferings? Are not sweetThe visions of then glory and repose,That fall upon me softly? In such hour,I feel my immortality—my heartAnswers the sacredness of all around—The charm, the fascination of the scene,And reads, delighted, evidence of God.On seraph wings my thoughts have burst the boundOf this low earth, and past those sinning orbs,Have traversed that wide ether, to the throneOf Him, the living one—have seen the arrayOf hosts angelic, who, in raptured state,Bend then- blest brows to hail him—have drank inImmortal music, tones divinely sweet,Attuned to praise—have heard, in awed delight,Voices I loved on earth as seraphim,Hymning his goodness—ever, ever on,In deeper, holier cadence—and, inspiredBy sudden adoration, I have kneltBeyond those radiant bands, at mortal's distance,To the Incomprehensible, and burnedTo be an angel too, and learn his will,And do his high command, and traverse heavenUpon the wings of an unwearied love!Presumptuous musings—yet beheld perchanceWith tenderness and pity, by the PowerWho breathed the aspirations in our breastFor all the bright and beautiful—for goodIn every earthly form—and higher stillThe boundless aspirations after Him,The living thirst for the immortal waters,Which not even faith supplies. My Heavenly Father!I ask Thee not for more; still feed this fire;'Mid the earth's darkening scenes, still guide me on,And I will follow the Invisible,Even with a child-like trust, nor ask for light,Nor shrink from trial, but confiding giveThis soul into thy keeping, and with smiles,To burst these bonds, await thine angel, death.