| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | The Hours | | By Edgar Fawcett (1847–1904) |
| | | ONCE amid sleep I saw the twelve sweet Hours | |
| Go lightly along, gay sisters, hand in hand, | |
| Some with gold flexuous hair and faces bland, | |
| Some dusky as night and wearing stars like flowers. | |
| “Ah, lovely!” I murmured,—but the secret powers | 5 |
| Of slumber, issuing an occult command, | |
| Changed these fair wanderers to a mournful band | |
| That moved with earthward brows through leafless bowers. | |
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| Then faintly across my dream a voice was borne. | |
| “The forms you first beheld, so blithe of mien, | 10 |
| Look thus to eyes that hope’s warm glory cheers; | |
| While they that walk funereal and forlorn, | |
| Though still the same, by differing eyes are seen | |
| Through shadow of anguish and cold mist of tears.” | | | | |
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