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Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Aurora-Borealis

 a poem written by Herman Melville in MAY 1865

commemorative of the dissolution of armies at the peace

What power disbands the Northern Lights

After their steely play?

The lonely watcher feels an awe

Of Nature's sway,

As when appearing,

He marked their flashed uprearing

In the cold gloom --

Retreatings and advancing,

(Like dallyings of Doom),

Transitions and enhancings,

And bloody ray.

The phantom-host has failed quite,

Splendor and Terror gone --

Portent or promise -- and gives way

To pale, meek Dawn;

The coming, going

Alike in wonder showing --

Alike the God,

Decreeing and commanding

The million blades that glowed,

The muster and disbanding --

Midnight and Morn.

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