• Dying! Dying in the night!

    Won't somebody bring the light

    So I can see which way to go

    Into the everlasting snow?


    And "Jesus"! Where is Jesus gone?

    They said that Jesus — always came —

    Perhaps he doesn't know the House —

    This way, Jesus, Let him pass!


    Somebody run to...

  • Good Night! Which put the Candle out?

    A jealous Zephyr — not a doubt —

    Ah, friend, you little knew

    How long at that celestial wick

    The Angels — labored diligent —

    Extinguished — now — for you!


    It might — have been the Light House spark —

    Some Sailor — rowing in the Dark —

    ...

  • Good night, because we must,

    How intricate the dust!

    I would go, to know!

    Oh incognito!

    Saucy, Saucy Seraph

    To elude me so!

    Father! they won't tell me,

    Won't you tell them to?

  • Her sweet Weight on my Heart a Night

    Had scarcely deigned to lie —

    When, stirring, for Belief's delight,

    My Bride had slipped away —


    If 'twas a Dream — made solid — just

    The Heaven to confirm —

    Or if Myself were dreamed of Her —

    The power to presume —


    With Him remain...

  • His Heart was darker than the starless night

    For that there is a morn

    But in this black Receptacle

    Can be no Bode of Dawn



  •  * * *[1]


    My Spectre around me night & day

    Like a Wild beast guards my way

    My Emanation far within

    Weeps incessantly for my Sin


    A Fathomless & boundless deep

    There we wander there we weep
    ...

  • On such a night, or such a night,

    Would anybody care

    If such a little figure

    Slipped quiet from its chair —


    So quiet — Oh how quiet,

    That nobody might know

    But that the little figure

    Rocked softer — to and fro —


    On such a dawn, or such a dawn —

    Would...

  • Rest at Night

    The Sun from shining,

    Nature — and some Men —

    Rest at Noon — some Men —

    While Nature

    And the Sun — go on —



  •  * * *


    Silent, Silent Night

    Quench the holy light

    Of thy torches bright.


    For possess'd of Day

    Thousand spirits stray

    That sweet joys betray.


    Why should joys be sweet

    Used with deceit

    Nor with sorrows meet?


    But an honest...