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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE COMFORTERS by LAURENCE HOUSMAN

First Line: TO NIGHT THE SLEEPER
Last Line: "O SORROW THE SLEEPER!"
Subject(s): COMFORT; DREAMS; NIGHT; PEACE; SLEEP; NIGHTMARES; BEDTIME;

TO Night the sleeper,
The watcher Sorrow:
"Be thy dreams deeper,
So may I borrow
Peace of thy peace,
And rest to my sorrow!"

"Peace, oh, peace!"
Quoth Night. "Of to-morrow
I am the keeper,
O watcher, O Sorrow!

"Under my breast
Its gold is moulden.
Lay thee, and rest,
To dreams beholden,
Wherefrom of its nest
The dawn goes golden!"

To the dreamed Morrow,
Sorrow the sleeper:
"Where may I borrow
New tears to my sorrow,
To comfort my sorrow,
Lest the wound grow deeper?
Of sleep borne hither,
Its well-springs wither."

"Of me," quoth the Morrow,
"O Sorrow the sleeper!"



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