The twilight shadows creep along the wall, br Without, the sobbing of the wind I hear, br And from the vine-clad elm that marks the mere br The ivy leaves in crimson eddies fall. br Deeper and deeper grow the shades of night, br And, gazing in the fire, to me appears br The form of one departed with the years- br The buried years of hope, and faith and light. br 'Oh that those lips had language'-would they tell br The old, old story of the bygone days- br Ere on our heart the blighting shadow fell, br And we henceforward followed parted ways? br I ask, but as I ask the embers die- br The vision fades-and answer none have I.