To Night

I.

Swiftly walk o'er the western wave,
	   Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave,
Where, all the long and lone day-
	light,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and
	fear,
Which make thee terrible and
	dear,-
	   Swift be thy flight!

II.
 
Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,
	   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!

III.

When I arose and saw the dawn,
	   I sighed for thee;
When light rode high, and the dew
	was gone,
And noon lat heavy on flower and
	tree,
And the weary Day turned to his
	rest,
Lingering like an unloved guest,
	   I sighed for thee.

IV.

Thy brother Death came, and cried,
	   wouldst thou me?
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-
	eyed,
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?- And I replied,
	   No, not thee!

V.

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, beloved Night-
Swift be thy approaching flight,
	   Come soon, soon!