The Moonlight Bridge

Low in the west the half-moon’s dusky bark

         Glides slowly down the firmamental deeps;

         On either hand the dark-green water sleeps,

Brossed by a floating bridge of bronze to mark

A strange highway along the welting dark,

         Where now  snake-like convolution creeps

         Black-glittering in the ungleaming gulf, and keeps

A moment’s life, then sinks unmoved and stark!

         Into what wonder-realm of holy night,

What world of mystery vision never saw,

         May lead that pallid path of golden light

So lit with beauty and so gloomed with awe?

         As drops the pale moon in the misty sea,

         There seems caught back a clew from other worlds to me.