To Night
(a love poem written to night time)
Swiftly walk o'er the western wave, Sun sets in the west
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave, Been waiting
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, Good and bad dreams = why some love and
Which make thee terrible and dear,— others hate night
Swift be thy flight! Begging to come quickly
Wrap thy form in a mantle gray, A cloak
Star-inwrought! Decorated by the stars
Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day; Proper noun = personifies (appears female)
Kiss her until she be wearied out, Night must spread its black hair over day so that
Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land, day can no longer see.
Touching all with thine opiate wand— “Drug wand” = to make people sleep
Come, long-sought! Extreme love or passion
Begging
When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sighed for thee; Repetition = longing
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, Apex of son (12:00)
And the weary Day turned to his rest, Proper noun = personifies (appears male)
Lingering like an unloved guest. Simile (no longer welcome to stay on earth)
I sighed for thee. Repetition = longing
Thy brother Death came, and cried, Related to night, but he doesn’t want it
Wouldst thou me?
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Related to night, but he doesn’t want it
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?— And I replied,
No, not thee! Only wants night
Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon—
Sleep will come when thou art fled;
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, belovèd Night— Begging to come quickly
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!
(a love poem written to night time)
Swiftly walk o'er the western wave, Sun sets in the west
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave, Been waiting
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, Good and bad dreams = why some love and
Which make thee terrible and dear,— others hate night
Swift be thy flight! Begging to come quickly
Wrap thy form in a mantle gray, A cloak
Star-inwrought! Decorated by the stars
Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day; Proper noun = personifies (appears female)
Kiss her until she be wearied out, Night must spread its black hair over day so that
Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land, day can no longer see.
Touching all with thine opiate wand— “Drug wand” = to make people sleep
Come, long-sought! Extreme love or passion
Begging
When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sighed for thee; Repetition = longing
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, Apex of son (12:00)
And the weary Day turned to his rest, Proper noun = personifies (appears male)
Lingering like an unloved guest. Simile (no longer welcome to stay on earth)
I sighed for thee. Repetition = longing
Thy brother Death came, and cried, Related to night, but he doesn’t want it
Wouldst thou me?
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Related to night, but he doesn’t want it
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?— And I replied,
No, not thee! Only wants night
Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon—
Sleep will come when thou art fled;
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, belovèd Night— Begging to come quickly
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!
