The Night Is Darkening Round Me

The night is darkening round me,The wild winds coldly blow;But a tyrant spell has bound meAnd I cannot, cannot go.

The giant trees are bendingTheir bare boughs weighed with snow,And the storm is fast descending,And yet I cannot go.

Clouds beyond clouds above me,Wastes beyond wastes below;But nothing drear can move me—I will not, cannot go.

November 1837.