Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.
Thomas Burbidge b. 1816Eventide
C
Beside the sunset’s golden bars,
Beside the floating scents, beside
The twinkling shadows of the stars.
Flash after flash the white
Broke up in many a shallow place;
The rest was soft and bright.
How many a marvellous power,
Sleeps in us,—sleeps, and doth not dream!
This knew I in that hour.
No more was in me stirr’d;
My life was in the river’s life,
And I nor saw nor heard.
The shade beneath the bank,
I felt it cool; the setting sun
Into my spirit sank.
I was; the mystery
I felt of having ever been
And being still to be.
I knew not; but I mourn’d
When from that realm of awful power
I to these fields return’d.