Fair sinks the summer evening now

Fair sinks the summer evening now

In softened glory round my home

The sky upon its holy brow

Wears not a cloud that speaks of gloom

The old tower shrined in golden light

Looks down on the descending sun

So gently evening blends with night

You scarce could say that day is done

And this is just the joyous hour

When we were wont to burst away

To 'scape from labour's tyrant power

And cheerfully go out to play

Then why is all so sad and lone?

No merry footstep on the stair

No laugh no heart awaking tone

But voiceless silence everywhere

I've wandered round our garden ground

And still it seemed at every turn

That I should greet approaching feet

And words upon the breezes borne

In vain they will not come today

And mornings beams will rise as drear

But tell me are they gone for aye

Our sun blinks through the mists of care?

Ah no reproving Hope doth say

Departed joys 'tis fond to mourn

When every storm that hides their ray

Prepares a more divine return