“Day is Dying”

George Eliot (Mary Ann Cross) (1819–1880)

From “The Spanish Gypsy”

DAY is dying! Float, O song,

Down the westward river,

Requiem chanting to the Day,—

Day, the mighty Giver.

Pierced by shafts of Time he bleeds,

Melted rubies sending

Through the river and the sky,

Earth and heaven bleeding;

All the long-drawn earthy banks

Up to cloud-land lifting:

Slow between them drifts the swan,

’Twixt two heavens drifting.

Wings half open, like a flower

Inly deeper flushing,

Neck and breast as virgin’s pure,—

Virgin proudly blushing.

Day is dying! Float, O swan,

Down the ruby river;

Follow, song, in requiem

To the mighty Giver.