’Tis evening now, the blushing west, In amber radiance glows, And o’er the lake the closing day The lengthen’d shadow throws. The sky in brightest hue was decked While round the setting sun The gorgeous clouds in mantle gay Of gold and purple shone. A light breeze played among the trees, And danced upon the wave, While all the splendour of the sky In bright reflection gave. Soon as the last expiring ray The high hills glided o’er, Ompoia’s light canoe was seen To leave the eastern shore. Around that rocky point she pass’d That midway cuts the lake, Slow was her course, and still her oar The darkening wave did break, How little then Ompoia thought As round that point she passed, Whose axe would cut the sycamore Whose shade was o’er her cast. Soon as that point was clear’d the isle Rose full upon the sight, While on its gentle slope there slept The rising moonbeam’s light. Soon was the bright wave over past And on the island shore The skiff was moor’d, and near the rock She leaned upon her oar. “Oh! why comes not Nootonuc’s bark? The moon rolls clear above, Darkness and light are like to him Then why comes not my love? “Oh! why comes not Nootonuc’s bark? The lake is calm and clear, But storm and calm are like to him Then why comes not my dear? “What sound is that within the woods Is it Nootonuc’s tread? No! ’tis the night owl on the trees That wave above my head. “What splash is that upon the wave Is it Nootonuc’s oar? No ’tis the duck’s young brood that leave The lake to gain the shore. “What is that flash of blood-red light That streaks the eastern sky, What if it be my father’s hut While far away am I?” High rose a column huge of flame Far o’er the mid lake land, And like a meteor of the night Flash’d far on every hand. So earnest on the fire she gaz’d So wrapt Ompoia stood She never heard her lover’s oars As swift he cross’d the flood. “Why hast thou staid so long my love? And why so breathless now? And what may mean those fire scorched plumes That blood mark on thy brow?”