Poetry Archives

Daylight fades away.
    Is the Lord at hand
In the shadows gray
    Stealing on the land?

      Gently from the east
        Come the shadows gray;
      But our lowly priest
        Nearer is than they.

It is darkness quite.
    Is the Lord at hand,
In the cloak of night
    Stolen upon the land?

      But I see no night,
        For my Lord is here
      With him dark is light,
        With him far is near.

List! the cock’s awake.
    Is the Lord at hand?
Cometh he to make
    Light in all the land?

      Long ago he made
        Morning in my heart;
      Long ago he bade
        Shadowy things depart.

Lo, the dawning hill!
    Is the Lord at hand,
Come to scatter ill,
    Ruling in the land?

      He hath scattered ill,
        Ruling in my mind;
      Growing to his will,
        Freedom comes, I find.

We will watch all day,
    Lest the Lord should come;
All night waking stay
    In the darkness dumb.

      I will work all day,
        For the Lord hath come;
      Down my head will lay
        All night, glad and dumb.

For we know not when
    Christ may be at hand;
But we know that then
    Joy is in the land.

      For I know that where
        Christ hath come again,
      Quietness without care
        Dwelleth in his men.