Poems (Vadlan)/The Midnight Hours
THE MIDNIGHT HOURS
'Tis way past midnight.And the still. small hours creep on,The wind blows hoarse and chillOutside my casement;Yet. within, the throbbing life goes on,As ever thus it did and willUntil the last. great callShall come, to carry with itLove and life and song.
'Tis way past midnightAnd the new day's coming on,Carrying its load of joy and sorrow,Nay. now invisibleIn the onward flight of its dark shades,Kind in bringing nearer Heaven's bright home,But cruel in bidding pilgrims the weary cross renewOf days and yesterdays. so fraught with pain,That morrow's sun the life-bloodNe'er could melt in human frame.
'Tis way past midnight,And the hunger call is heardWith myriad prayers that shake and rend the soul,God-given, God-redeemed,And so because of thatIt seeks, only one haven 'neathThe shading canopy of day and night,Where comfort unspeakable is foundIn Love's eternal light.
'Tis way past midnight,And the depth of gloom is brightened,By a star, that sheds a lustrous rayAnd burnishes the tarnished shield of Hope,Whose careful vigilance and steadfastnessFails seldom, save only when the mindPlays false and rests itself upon the fading sands of earth;Where naught is found but crime,With sickness, want and dearth.
'Tis way past midnightBut the vision, grand and gloriousComes on anon:Love soars forth triumphantOn silvered feet to greet the eternal dawn,Tho' heavy fetters bind the body downThe spirit speeds its upward flight,And joins the mate it missedIn the world's dark night.
'Tis way past midnight,And the hours do shorter grow,But the tryst is keptAnd the sad tears wept as the night winds blow.Like falling waters in varied accents the benediction fell,And filling every atom of the mortal man,Swept like sweetest carol on the Christmas morn,To hold communion with the absent one,Whose soul and body God didst mould and form.
'Tis way past midnight,And the song its singing ended must stop its tones,And soften every part into a wondrous close,Whose melody will fill to overflowing a sweet repose:Refined and sweetened by its powerful notes,Let joy, pure joy, leap forth in gladsome lay:Remember that our God is always Love,Hidden in kindness are His waysAnd all revealing on that day of days.