Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | II. Light: Day: Night | | “Day is Dying” | | George Eliot (Mary Ann Cross) (1819–1880) |
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DAY is dying! Float, O song, | |
| Down the westward river, | |
| Requiem chanting to the Day,— | |
| Day, the mighty Giver. | |
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| Pierced by shafts of Time he bleeds, | 5 |
| Melted rubies sending | |
| Through the river and the sky, | |
| Earth and heaven bleeding; | |
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| All the long-drawn earthy banks | |
| Up to cloud-land lifting: | 10 |
| Slow between them drifts the swan, | |
| ’Twixt two heavens drifting. | |
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| Wings half open, like a flower | |
| Inly deeper flushing, | |
| Neck and breast as virgin’s pure,— | 15 |
| Virgin proudly blushing. | |
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| Day is dying! Float, O swan, | |
| Down the ruby river; | |
| Follow, song, in requiem | |
| To the mighty Giver. | 20 | | | |
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