Song for a Winter's Night

The lamp is burning low upon my table top
The snow is softly falling
The air is still in the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling.

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winter night with you. . . .


The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are lifting
The morning light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are drifting.

 

If I could only have you near, to breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
And to once again be with you
On this winter night with you.


Gordon Lightfoot

People of a distant past . . .

The pleasantest

of all diversions

is to sit alone

under the lamp,

 
a book spread out before you,
and to make friends
with people
of a distant past
you have never known.


Kenko
14th Century Japanese Writer
Essays in Idleness