Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NIGHT by THOMAS WILLIAM ROLLESTON

Poem Explanation

First Line: WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ME TO DIE
When the time comes for me to die
When the time comes for me to die
To-morrow or some other day,
To-morrow or some other day,
If God should bid me make reply,
If God should bid me make reply,
'What wilt thou?' I shall say:
'What wilt thou?' I shall say:

O God, Thy world was great and fair,

Yet give me to forget it clean;
O God, Thy world was great and fair,
Vex me no more with things that were,
Yet give me to forget it clean;
And things that might have been.
Vex me no more with things that were,
I loved, I toiled-throve ill and well,
And things that might have been.
Lived certain years, and murmur'd not.

Now grant me in that land to dwell

Where all things are forgot.
I loved, I toiled-throve ill and well,
For others, Lord, Thy purging fires,
Lived certain years, and murmur'd not.
The loves reknit, the crown, the palm.
Now grant me in that land to dwell
For me, the death of all desires
Where all things are forgot.
In deep, eternal calm.




For others, Lord, Thy purging fires,
The loves reknit, the crown, the palm.
For me, the death of all desires
In deep, eternal calm.




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