NIGHT
by: Percy Bysshe Shelly
(1792-1822)
- WIFTLY walk
o'er the western wave,
- Spirit of Night!
- Out of the misty eastern cave,--
- Where, all the long and lone daylight,
- Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear
- Which make thee terrible and dear,--
- Swift be thy flight!
-
- Wrap thy form in a mantle grey,
- Star-inwrought!
- Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;
- Kiss her until she be wearied out.
- Then wander o'er city and sea and land,
- Touching all with thine opiate wand--
- Come, long sought!
-
- When I arose and saw the dawn
- I sigh'd for thee;
- When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
- And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,
- And the weary Day turn'd to her rest,
- Lingering like an unloved guest,
- I sigh'd for thee.
-
- Thy brother Death came, and cried,
- 'Wouldst thou me?'
- Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
- Murmur'd like a noontide bee,
- 'Shall I nestle near thy side?
- Wouldst thou me?'--and I replied,
- 'No, not thee!'
-
- 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--
- Swift be thine approaching flight,
- Come soon, soon!
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