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MEDITATIONS AT TWILIGHT, by                    
First Line: Ah, more and more at evening
Last Line: Of discontent—to us—bring peace.
Subject(s): Jews; Meditation; Judaism


AH, more and more at evening,
When twilight edges to its end,
And darkness, eastern caverns leaving,
Her shadow o'er creation bend;
The lowing moments foster meaning
Upon the pageant of decay,
As glory into night diffusing
Brings untoward sadness in her way.

Within that evening calm there comes
A recollection faint and dim
Of boyhood, of Sabbath hour and homes,
Of synagogue and temple hymn,
When in abated breath we heard
The echoes of our spirit-fathers,
In praise and reverential word
Of prayer. This spirit hovers.

Their hymns re-echo in my dreams,
They too felt doubt, despondency;
And saw our mistrusts also beam
In thought. The poet and sages fancy
Gave them hope beyond our mind,
More truthful to the thought of God,
To attributes that firmly bind
A God above—yet man to sod,

For ages have Thy children sought
And find Thy mercy hath no end,
Greater thought and deeds are wrought
On earth to-day, than in the trend
Of generations turned to dust;
Still must with love our bosom heave,
With hope and common manful trust,
The rest—to God we meekly leave.

And lo! upon yon lum'nous ascent,
There glitters joyously the star
Proclaiming night. Ah, day hath sent
Her messengers of light afar,
Come spirit of the evening, dwell
With us, and in our life's increase
Of doubt and the annoying spell,
Of discontent—to us—bring peace.





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