SLEEP at last has fled these eyes, Nor do I regret his flight; More alert my spirits rise, And my heart is free and light. Nature silent all around, Not a single witness near; God as soon as sought is found, And the flame of love burns clear. Interruption, all day long, Checks the current of my joys; Creatures press me with a throng, And perplex me with their noise. Undisturbed I muse all night On the first Eternal Fair; Nothing there obstructs delight, Love is renovated there. Life, with its perpetual stir, Proves a foe to Love and me; Fresh entanglements occur,-- Comes the night, and sets me free. Never more, sweet sleep, suspend My enjoyments, always new: Leave me to possess my friend; Other eyes and hearts subdue. Hush the world, that I may wake To the taste of pure delights; Oh the pleasures I partake,-- God the partner of my nights! David, for the selfsame cause, Night preferred to busy day: Hearts whom heavenly beauty draws Wish the glaring sun away. Sleep, self-lovers, is for you;-- Souls, that love celestial know, Fairer scenes by night can view Than the sun can ever show. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON GEORGE HERBERT'S BOOK, THE TEMPLE, SENT TO A GENTLEWOMAN by RICHARD CRASHAW THE COLORED SOLDIERS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE GLOW-WORM by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH BLIND OLD MILTON by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN GLEANING by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN NATALIA'S RESURRECTION: 3 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 106. THE SUBLIME: 1 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |