Night

Fair is the wedded reign of Night and Day.

Each rules a half of earth with different sway,

Exchanging kingdoms,

East and West, alway.

Like the round pearl that Egypt drunk in wine,

The sun half sinks i' the brimming, rosy brine:

The wild Night drinks all up:  how her eyes shine!

Now the swift sail of straining life is furled,

And through the stillness of my soul is

The throbbing of the hearts of half the world.

I hear the cries that follow Birth and Death.

I hear huge Pestilence draw his vaporous breath:"Beware, prepare, or else ye die," he saith.

I hear a haggard student turn and sigh:

I hear men begging Heaven to let them die:

And, drowning all, a wild-eyed woman's cry.

So Night takes toll of Wisdom as of Sin.

The student's and the drunkard's cheek is thin:

But flesh is not the prize we strive to win.

Now airy swarms of fluttering dreams

On souls, like birds on trees, and have no end.

O God, from vulture-dreams my soul defend!

Let fall on Her a rose-leaf rain of dreams,

All passionate-sweet, as are the loving

Of starlight on the glimmering woods and streams.