GOOD-NIGHT, Mother. Thou dost sleep, While my lonely watch I keep. Suns blaze brightly overhead; Moons pass by with silver tread; Night and day, and day and night Alternate with shade and light. But I know no change. To me All is dark apart from thee. Lost my life its whole of light, When I bade thee, dear, good-night. Good-night, Mother dear, good-night. Soft thy slumbers be and light. Though I call thee through the years— Call with passion of wild tears— May no dream of my unrest Cross the quiet of thy breast; May no memory of me, Agonised on earth for thee, Come to grieve thee or affright. Good-night, Mother dear, Good-night. Good-night, oh, my dearest. Sleep. God hide from thee that I weep. Sleep, sleep, Mother, while I wake Life's long night through for thy sake, Bound up heart and soul and brain In a timeless stretch of pain— In a blank mid-night of sorrow That has neither moon nor morrow. God so wills. It must be right. Thine the slumber; mine, the night. |