When I heard at the Close of the Day

1WHEN I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the

2 capitol,

3 still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d;

4And else, when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy;

5But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing,

6 inhaling

7 the

8 ripe breath of autumn,

9When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,

10When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed, laughing with the cool

11 waters,

12 and

13 saw the sun rise,

14And when I thought how my dear friend, my lover, was on his way coming, O then I was

15 happy;

16O then each breath tasted sweeter—and all that day my food nourish’d me more—and the

17 beautiful

18 day pass’d well,

19And the next came with equal joy—and with the next, at evening, came my friend;

20And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the

21 shores,