Part 5 — THE LOVE DIAL.
Reading edition
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BY LIEUT. G. W. PATTON.
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A dial in the twilight lay,
Reflecting back pale evening’s ray,
When stealthily two lovers came
And leaned beside its silent frame:
“Mute marker of the moments’ flight,
Oh! dial, tell us of the night!”
—But who might trace time’s tangled way
On dials dim with twilight gray?
As brightly now the midnight moon
Rode o’er the starry arch of noon,
To learn the hour of eventide
Again the youth and maiden sighed:
“Mute marker of the moments’ flight,
Oh! dial, tell us of the night!”
—But ’neath the moon’s uncertain ray
The shadow pointed still astray.
Unconscious how the moments flew,
(Bound by the spell which passion drew,)
Unto the dial’s line of shade
Once more approached the youth and maid:
“Mute marker of the moments’ flight,
Oh! dial, tell us of the night!”
When (how could night so fast have worn?)
The tell-tale shadow marked the morn.
And as they watched the silv’ry face
Where day his hours began to trace,
In morning’s light, now stronger grown,
This motto o’er the circle shown:
“When lovers meet at eventide,
Time marks not how the moments glide:
When lovers part at rosy light
Time counts the ling’ring hours till night.”