Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DAWNING, by HENRY VAUGHAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DAWNING, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ah! What time wilt thou come? When shall that cry
Last Line: Watching the break of thy great day.
Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist
Variant Title(s): The Second Advent
Subject(s): Dawn; Millenium; Sunrise


Ah! what time wilt thou come? when shall that cry
The Bridegroom's coming! fill the sky?
Shall it in the evening run
When our words and works are done?
Or will thy all-surprising light
Break at midnight?
When either sleep, or some dark pleasure
Possesseth mad man without measure;
Or shall these early, fragrant hours
Unlock thy bowers?
And with their blush of light descry
Thy locks crowned with eternity;
Indeed, it is the only time
That with thy glory doth best chime,
All now are stirring, ev'ry field
Full hymns doth yield,
The whole Creation shakes off night,
And for thy shadow looks the light,
Stars now vanish without number,
Sleepy planets set and slumber,
The pursy clouds disband and scatter,
All expect some sudden matter,
Not one beam triumphs, but from far
That morning-star;

O at what time soever thou
(Unknown to us) the heavens wilt bow,
And, with thy angels in the van,
Descend to judge poor careless man,
Grant, I may not like puddle lie
In a corrupt security,
Where, if a traveller water crave,
He finds it dead, and in a grave;
But as this restless, vocal spring
All day and night doth run and sing,
And though here born, yet is acquainted
Elsewhere, and flowing keeps untainted;
So let me all my busy age
In thy free services engage,
And though (while here) of force I must
Have commerce sometimes with poor dust,
And in my flesh, though vile and low,
As this doth in her channel flow,
Yet let my course, my aim, my love,
And chief acquaintance be above;
So when that day and hour shall come
In which thyself will be the Sun,
Thou'lt find me dressed and on my way,
Watching the break of thy great day.





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