DERWENTWATER

JOHN VAN DRUTEN

WE sat and watched the silver of the lake,

Beneath the ash-grey of the evening sky, Watching the soft light falter, fade and die, The tiny ripples move and creep and shake, And the great hills stretch out and faraway. Hearing soft murmurs, water's distant fall, And voices through the dark, and peace in all.

And twilight grew. Grey changed to softer grey.

Silent we sat, unmoving. And the night

Dropped slowly round us. Something in me stirred;

A sense of wonder in the sinking light,

And we knew well, although we spoke no word,

Each other's thoughts, and felt the night's caress

Touch our full hearts with peace and happiness.