midnight
Thus threatened , I commenced in a husky , faltering voice the reading of lines which , till that moment , I had believed glowing with the inspiration of genius . Now , how flat and commonplace they seemed ! It was the first time I had ever ventured to reveal to others the talent hidden with all a miser 's vigilance in my bosom casket . I had lisped in rhyme , -- I had improvised in rhyme , -- I had dreamed in poetry , when the moon and stars were looking down on me with benignant lustre ; -- I had _ thought _ poetry at the sunset hour , amid twilight shadows and midnight darkness . I had scribbled it at early morn in my own little room , at noonday recess at my solitary desk ; but no human being , save my mother , knew of the young dream-girl 's poetic raptures . One of those irresistible promptings of the spirit which all have felt , and to which many have yielded , induced me at this era to break loose from my shell and come forth , as I imagined , a beautiful and brilliant butterfly , soaring up above the gaze of my astonished and admiring companions . Yes ; with all my diffidence I anticipated a scene of triumph , a dramatic scene , which would terminate perhaps in a crown of laurel , or a public ovation .