The Camper Lyrics

Night 'neath the northern skies, lone, black, and grim:

Naught but the starlight lies 'twixt heaven, and him.

Of man no need has he, of God, no prayer;

He and his Deity are brothers there.

Above his bivouac the firs fling down

Through branches gaunt and black, their needles brown.

Afar some mountain streams, rockbound and fleet,

Sing themselves through his dreams in cadence sweet,

The pine trees whispering, the heron's cry,

The plover's passing wing, his lullaby.

And blinking overhead the white stars keep

Watch o'er his hemlock bed—his sinless sleep.