Known only, only to me and the night, and the stars and God! Song, from a burning breast, Of a land of perfected delights which the foot of man ne’er trod, Like a foaming wine expressed From passionate fruits that glowed ’mid the boughs of the Eden lost, Ere sin was born and frost;-- _Song wild with desires and regrets, While the world in sleep forgets_. Known only, only to me and God, and the night and the stars! The beacon fire of song, Flaming for guidance and hope while the storm-winds wage their wars; Balm for the ancient wrong, Dropping from healing wings on the wounds of the heart and brain, Quenching their ancient pain: Love-star that rises and sets, _While the world in sleep forgets_. Known only, only to God and me, and the stars and the night! Dove that returns to my ark, Murmuring of grief-floods falling, of light beyond all light: Voice that cleaveth the dark, Singing of earth growing heaven, of distant lands that bless, Though they may not caress, And, blessing, pay Love’s old debts, _While the world in sleep forgets_. Long before he ended the tears were coursing slowly down his withered cheeks, and when the last word died away a long silence came between us, for I could find no words to express the emotion in me. He took my hand and held it a moment tightly, then presently got up, put on his old hat again, with the remark that it was time for bed, and followed me slowly to a Broadway cable car. His small, frail figure seemed to have dwindled to a child’s shadow as he moved beside me; he had a way of hunching his thin shoulders that still further dwarfed his height; I felt myself a giant physically, but in my mind _his_ stature reached the stars. We exchanged addresses. He lived in 8th Street, a miserable attic, I learned later, though I never actually entered it. Of his mental disorder no inkling had then reached me. I watched him melt into the shadows of the side street with the feeling that I watched some legendary figure, some ancient prophet, some mysterious priest. He smiled at me; there was love and blessing in the brilliant eyes. Then he was gone.... For me, at this time, to meet and talk with such a man held something of the fabulous. He had set fire to a hundred new thoughts and left them flaming in me.