Classic Poem

The day was waning in the western sky,
Above his grave brooded the broadening sun;
The twilight's shadows lengthened far and nigh —
Another day was done.

All calmly and serene the moon uprose
After that day of tempest and of grief;
But yet the evening brought me no repose,
The calm brought no relief!

Under my woe I staggered like to faint;
My lot seemed harder than I well could bear;
Through the pale light went up my impassioned plaint —
" Give me surcease from care!"

I gazed from out my window on the red
And radiant sky where sank the orb of light,
Then seized the book of a sweet bard and read
His " Voices of the Night."

I read impetuously — I know not why,
For the sweet words upon my spirit fell,
As in the desert bread fell from the sky
To hungry Israel!

But darkness deepened, and the words grew dim
And faded from my faint and fading sight;
I closed mine eyes and slept, and psalm and hymn
Mingled their mystic light:

And in that light I dreamed a dream. Behold,
Two female forms of wondrous beauty rare
Stood o'er me! One was tall and pale and cold,
And dark her flowing hair:

Her dark eyes shone beneath her darker veil
Like twin stars mirrored in tempestuous sea:
Her form was queenly in its grace, and pale
Her brow did seem to me:

She wore a sombre robe, from head to foot
All fringed with purple fire and flakes of light;
She spoke in voice as soft and sweet as lute,
And said, " My name is Night."

I turned and looked upon the other form
That stood so motionless and silent there, —
Her cheek was rosy bright, her blue eyes warm,
And golden was her hair;

Clad in a flowing robe of snowy white,
Bedecked with glimmering pearls and silver's sheen,
She stood beside the sombre, shadowy Night
Like some sweet fairy queen!

Then spake the dark-eyed maiden in her low
Soft tones: " We heard your anguished cry,
And came to grant thee respite from thy woe, —
My sister Peace and I.

" We came from our sweet home afar to bring
Strength to thy soul to battle with its care:
The fear of trouble is its fiercest sting.
Go forth, and not despair!

" Bear sorrow as the Great-hearts of the earth
Bore theirs, — go forth and meet it as 'tis seen,
And lo! like moist mirage in desert's dearth,
What seems has never been!

" Face troubles boldly, and they fly away!
Keep thy heart pure, thy form and soul erect!
Be strong in knowing man is more than clay;
Be strong in self-respect!

" Remember also there is One who knows
All things, however faint, obscure, and dim:
He will not let a brave heart fail, nor those
That firmly trust in Him!"

Then Peace stooped down and murmured in mine ear
A soft sweet gush of silver-sounding words,
Like prattle of a brooklet calm and clear,
Or song of summer birds.

And I lay in a speechless ecstasy,
Drinking in all the sweet words of those twain,
Until I felt the soul-strength within me
Quicken and live again!

At length the soft sounds faded from the sense,
The silence woke me, and I gazed afar
From out my window on the broad immense
Of sky and shimmering star.

And there I sat and pondered o'er my dream,
While stern Resolve came to my fainting soul,
Till through the troublous clouds there shone a gleam
That showed a glorious goal!

The morrow dawned and died into the night;
And with it came and went the fierce array
Of troubles that seemed coming like a blight
To crush, destroy, and slay!

They passed like mist before the breath of morn,
Teaching the stern realities of life;
Showing the fate of every creature born
With care and woe is rife!

And as I sat and felt the perfumed air
That hovered round that dreaded day's decease,
I breathed a blessing on the holy pair —
Night and her sister Peace!