'Tis near the morning watch, the dim lamp burns But scarcely shows how dark the slumbering street; No sound of life the silent mart returns; No friends from house to house their neighbors greet; It is the sleep of death; a deeper sleep Than e'er before on mortal eyelids fell; No stars above the gloom their places keep; No faithful watchmen of the morning tell; Yet still they slumber on, though rising day Hath through their windows poured the awakening light; Or, turning in their sluggard trances, say -- "There yet are many hours to fill the night;" They rise not yet; while on the bridegroom goes 'Till he the day's bright gates forever on them close! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALASKA by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER IN HONOR OF TAFFY TOPAZ by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY THE VIGIL OF JOSEPH by ELSA BARKER BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE THIRD SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE RING AND THE BOOK: BOOK 11. GUIDO by ROBERT BROWNING |