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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SAINT ELIZABETH OF BOHEMIA: 1; SONNET by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK

First Line: I NEVER LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
Last Line: I TRUST, GOD WILL FORGIVE MY SINGING THAT POOR SONG.
I NEVER lay me down to sleep at night
But in my heart I sing that little song:
The angels hear it as, a pitying throng,
They touch my burning lids with fingers bright
As moonbeams, pale, impalpable, and light:
And when my daily pious tasks are done,
And all my patient prayers said one by one,
God hears it. Seems it sinful in His sight
That round my slow burnt-offering of quenched will
One quivering human sigh creeps wind-like still?
That when my orisons celestial fail
Rises one note of natural human wail?
Dear lord, spouse, hero, martyr, saint! erelong,
I trust, God will forgive my singing that poor song.




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