Marjorie Meeker

From “Songs of Night”

DRAW in the threads of thought—

Each delicate filament,

Reaching into too many places,

Finding forgotten faces …

Draw in the long twisting thoughts you have sent.

Strange, that you lie here wondering

About things that don’t matter;

Strange, that you lie here pondering …

And outside, the raindrops patter,

A fog is on the town,

And over the river

The drenched lights cross and quiver,

And the far harsh rumble of trams goes up and down.

Once, like a wind, beauty swept through you;

Once, like a small song that sings and sings,

Happiness crept through you;

Once, love seemed the reason for things;

And once you thought

Peace had come upon you….

And then all came to naught.

Draw in the threads of thought—

Each delicate filament,

Quivering and bright;

Draw in the long twisting thoughts you have sent.

Cast all the tangled old dreaming and groping

To the still, deep,

Strange heart of Night

(Gentle forever to all grieving and hoping)—

And sleep.