free-verse25 lines
Good Night
by Ella Wheeler WilcoxThe day is at its golden height,
No shadow falls on sea or land;
And yet to thee I say Good night,
As we stand here hand clasped in hand,
Good night -Good night.
The laughing waves are summer blue,
The bees hum in the sun's warm light;
But frosts of winter chill me through,
I shiver as I say Good night.
Good night -Good night.
How often at the close of day
With smiling lips we've said those words:
And listened as we turned away
To hear them echoed by the birds,
Good night -Good night.
We did not dream then of this hour,
This sad, sad hour for you and me;
We did not dream there was a power
Could force us for eternity
To say Good night.
Good night -nay, turn your eyes away;
I cannot bear their tender light.
Now evermore to golden day,
To golden hope, a last Good night,
Good night -Good night.