In spring of youth it was my lot 
To haunt of the wide world a spot 
The which I could not love the less 
So lovely was the loneliness
 
Of a wild lake, with black rock bound, 
And the tall pines that towered around. 
But when the night had thrown her pall 
Upon that spot, as upon all, 

And the mystic wind went by 
Murmuring in melody 
Then ah then I would awake 
To the terror of the lone lake. 

Yet that terror was not fright, 
But a tremulous delight 
A feeling not the jewelled mine 
Could teach or bribe me to define 
Nor Love--although the Love were thine.

 And the mystic wind went by 
Murmuring in melody 
Then ah then I would awake 
To the terror of the lone lake. 

Death was in that poisonous wave, 
And in its gulf a fitting grave 
For him who thence could solace bring 
To his lone imagining 
Whose solitary soul could make 
An Eden of that dim lake. 

Of a wild lake, with black rock's around's you 
And the tall pines that towered around. 
No more love, no more pain to 
To define 

And the mystic wind went by 
Then ah then I would awake 
An Eden of that dim lake 
An Eden of that dim lake

And the mystic wind went by 
Murmuring in melody 
Then--ah then I would awake 
To the terror of the lone lake. 

And the mystic wind went by 
Murmuring in melody 
Then--ah then I would awake 
To the terror of the lone lake.