To Night

8Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,

9Star-inwrought!

10Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;

11Kiss her until she be wearied out,

12Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,

13Touching all with thine opiate wand —

14Come, long-sought!

15When I arose and saw the dawn,

16I sighed for thee;

17When light rode high, and the dew was gone,

18And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,

19And the weary Day turned to his rest,

20Lingering like an unloved guest, I sighed for thee.

21Thy brother Death came, and cried,

22Wouldst thou me?

23Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,

24Murmured like a noontide bee,

25Shall I nestle near thy side?

26Wouldst thou me? — And I replied,

27No, not thee!

28Death will come when thou art dead,

29Soon, too soon —

30Sleep will come when thou art fled;

31Of neither would I ask the boon

32I ask of thee, beloved Night —

33Swift be thine approaching flight,

34Come soon, soon!