A Memory

"Here, while the loom of Winter weaves     The shroud of flowers and fountains,     I think of thee and summer eves     Among the Northern mountains.     When thunder tolled the twilight's close,     And winds the lake were rude on,     And thou wert singing, "Ca' the Yowes",     The bonny yowes of Cluden!     When, close and closer, hushing breath,     Our circle narrowed round thee,     And smiles and tears made up the wreath     Wherewith our silence crowned thee;     And, strangers all, we felt the ties     Of sisters and of brothers;     Ah! whose of all those kindly eyes     Now smile upon another's?     The sport of Time, who still apart     The waifs of life is flinging;     Oh, nevermore shall heart to heart     Draw nearer for that singing!     Yet when the panes are frosty-starred,     And twilight's fire is gleaming,     I hear the songs of Scotland's bard     Sound softly through my dreaming!     A song that lends to winter snows     The glow of summer weather,     Again I hear thee ca' the yowes     To Cluden's hills of heathe