One moment in a sleep like death
The world of Nature holds its breath,
'Mid darkness such as might have been
In days of midnight chaos; then,
Another moment, 'thwart the gloom
Cometh a mist of light, a bloom
Like that upon the purple store
Of vintages; a moment more,
A slender, piping note is heard,
Then throat by throat each hidden bird
Breaks into tune,―a herald's lay,
That ushers in the dawn of day.