| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| Mother Night |
| | | James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) |
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| ETERNITIES before the first-born day, | |
| Or ere the first sun fledged his wings of flame, | |
| Calm Night, the everlasting and the same, | |
| A brooding mother over chaos lay. | |
| And whirling suns shall blaze and then decay, | 5 |
| Shall run their fiery courses and then claim | |
| The haven of the darkness whence they came; | |
| Back to Nirvanic peace shall grope their way. | |
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| So when my feeble sun of life burns out, | |
| And sounded is the hour for my long sleep, | 10 |
| I shall, full weary of the feverish light, | |
| Welcome the darkness without fear or doubt, | |
| And heavy-lidded, I shall softly creep | |
| Into the quiet bosom of the Night. | |
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