Dollie Radford (1858–1920)

AND art thou come again, oh Night;

I know thee by thy starry crown,

And by the mists of violet light

Which gather where thy robes fall down.

I know thee by the purple clouds

Thy strong wings spread around the moon,

And by the stillness which enshrouds

Thy presence, thou art come too soon.

Too soon, for lo thy fair love Sleep

Turns not her sweet face to the skies,

She lingers where the shadows creep,

And stays to kiss our children’s eyes.

But when her gentle hands have blest

Our homesteads, she will come to thee,

And through the holy hours of rest

Thine arms will hold her safe, and she

Will hear the promises again

Thou bringest from the distant spheres,

And learn the reason of our pain,

And meaning of our bitter tears.

Thine eyes are steadfast and I dare

Their mighty mystery to read,

But mine are dimmed by thought and care

And fail me in my greatest need.

I watch for thee, wilt thou not bring

One message to my fainting heart?

Through summer-time and snow and spring

I watch for thee. Must thou depart

Thus silently—when will it come,

That perfect day which we await?

For us thy lips are ever dumb,

And voiceless is thy calm estate,

Ah! tell thy fair love Sleep that she

May touch me when she passes by,

And whisper what she hears from thee

In some sweet lullaby.