Swiftly walk o'er the western wave, <br /> Spirit of Night! <br />Out of the misty eastern cave, <br />Where, all the long and lone daylight, <br />Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, <br />Which make thee terrible and dear-- <br /> Swift be thy flight! <br /> <br />Wrap thy form in a mantle gray, <br /> Star-inwrought! <br />Blind with thine hair the eyes of day; <br />Kiss her until she be wearied out, <br />Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land, <br />Touching all with thine opiate wand-- <br /> Come, long-sought! <br /> <br />When I arose and saw the dawn, <br /> I sighed for thee; <br />When light rode high, and the dew was gone, <br />And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, <br />And the weary day turned to his rest, <br />Lingering like an unloved guest, <br /> I sighed for thee. <br /> <br />Thy brother Death came, and cried, <br /> Wouldst thou me? <br />Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, <br />Murmured like a noontide bee, <br />Shall I nestle near thy side? <br />Wouldst thou me?--And I replied, <br /> No, not thee! <br /> <br />Death will come when thou art dead, <br /> Soon, too soon-- <br />Sleep will come when thou art fled; <br />Of neither would I ask the boon <br />I ask of thee, beloved Night-- <br />Swift be thine approaching flight, <br /> Come soon, soon!<br /><br />Percy Bysshe Shelley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-night/
