by Adelaide A. Procter.
Originally published in St. James's Magazine (W. Kent) vol.1 #2 (May 1861).
The shadows were dancing, waving—
While the firelight's flickering gleams
Lit up those two still faces;
Dreaming their twilight dreams.
The dreams of an aged woman
And a young girl, side by side:
Age in its calm resignation;
Youth in its confident pride.
Forth to what comes so quickly—
Back to what fled so fast;
One divining her future—
One regretting her past.
Yet, as I gazed and watched them,
By the firelight's glancing flame,
I saw the two dreams they were dreaming—
And lo! they were both the same.