Night
Thro’ azure paths fair Venus comes with golden bars
To close the gates of Day. The twilight’s dusky stole
Is lightly spangled o’er with heaven’s brightest stars;
Soon Night will bring her countless ones whose ceaseless roll
Thro’ boundless depths of space, repeat creation’s song.
Thus canopied by God’s omnipotence, outspread,
The earth doth lull and soothe her surging, restless throng
With brooding calm. Sleep’s poppied sweets for toil are shed.
When strife is hushed to rest, by Nature’s drowsy hum
And barter’s dins are stilled—its flaunting ensigns furled,
When, drugged with Somnus’ wines, earth’s noisy crowds are dumb
And stillness spreads her slumber-robe, so softly o’er the world,
’Tis joy to watch Night’s queenly orb, climb up the eastern stair,
And pour her flood of silver light o’er hills and bowers,
That in the sacred silence gleam, so radiant and fair,
In glistening robes of green and dewy, fragrant flowers.
All hail, blest hour of cool repose, when Labor’s chains
That bind the mind, thro’ all the day, to weary tasks
Are loosed! Ay, now, the soul, in freedom from their pains,
May drink from founts of pure supernal joy. It basks
In glories which the night o’er earth and sky hath strown.
Compassion sweet, the dewy coolness doth impart
And dreamy perfumes, by the balmy breezes blown,
Are evening’s sweet acopic, when she folds us to her heart.