| |
| AND art thou come again, oh Night; | |
| I know thee by thy starry crown, | |
| And by the mists of violet light | |
| Which gather where thy robes fall down. | |
| I know thee by the purple clouds | 5 |
| Thy strong wings spread around the moon, | |
| And by the stillness which enshrouds | |
| Thy presence, thou art come too soon. | |
| Too soon, for lo thy fair love Sleep | |
| Turns not her sweet face to the skies, | 10 |
| She lingers where the shadows creep, | |
| And stays to kiss our children’s eyes. | |
| |
| But when her gentle hands have blest | |
| Our homesteads, she will come to thee, | |
| And through the holy hours of rest | 15 |
| Thine arms will hold her safe, and she | |
| Will hear the promises again | |
| Thou bringest from the distant spheres, | |
| And learn the reason of our pain, | |
| And meaning of our bitter tears. | 20 |
| Thine eyes are steadfast and I dare | |
| Their mighty mystery to read, | |
| But mine are dimmed by thought and care | |
| And fail me in my greatest need. | |
| |
| I watch for thee, wilt thou not bring | 25 |
| One message to my fainting heart? | |
| Through summer-time and snow and spring | |
| I watch for thee. Must thou depart | |
| Thus silently—when will it come, | |
| That perfect day which we await? | 30 |
| For us thy lips are ever dumb, | |
| And voiceless is thy calm estate, | |
| Ah! tell thy fair love Sleep that she | |
| May touch me when she passes by, | |
| And whisper what she hears from thee | 35 |
| In some sweet lullaby. | |
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