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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AT NOON - AND MIDNIGHT by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: FAR IN THE NIGHT, AND YET NO REST FOR HIM!
Last Line: FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM, AND HE LAID HIS FACE WITH HERS AND WEPT.
Subject(s): GOD; NOON; SLEEP;

FAR in the night, and yet no rest for him! The pillow next his own
The wife's sweet face in slumber pressed -- yet he awake -- alone! alone!
In vain he courted sleep; -- one thought would ever in his heart arise, --
The harsh words that at noon had brought the tear-drops to her eyes.

Slowly on lifted arm he raised and listened. All was still as death;
He touched her forehead as he gazed, and listened yet, with bated breath:
Still silently, as though he prayed, his lips moved lightly as she slept --
For God was with him, and he laid his face with hers and wept.



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