The Lake

In youth's spring, it was my lot
To haunt of the wide earth a spot
To which I could not love the less;
So lovely was the loneliness
Of a wild lake, with black rock bound.
And the tall trees that tower'd around.
But when the night had thrown her pall
Upon that spot-- as upon all,
And the wind would pass me by
In its stilly melody,
My infant spirit would awake
To the terror of the lone lake.
Yet that terror was not fright--
But a tremulous delight,
And a feeling undefined,
Springing from a darkened mind.
Death was in that poisoned wave
And in its gulf a fitting grave
For him who thence could solace bring
To his dark imagining;
Whose wildering though could even make
An Eden of that dim lake.