The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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Night and Death. |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
Night and Death.
Now the sun-lit hours are o'er,
Rise up from thy shadowy shore,
Happy Night, whom Chaos bore.
Rise up from thy shadowy shore,
Happy Night, whom Chaos bore.
Better is the peaceful treasure
Of thy musings without measure,
Than the day's unquiet pleasure.
Of thy musings without measure,
Than the day's unquiet pleasure.
Bring the holy moon; so pale
She herself seems but a veil
For the sun, where no clouds sail.
She herself seems but a veil
For the sun, where no clouds sail.
Bring the stars, thy progeny;
Each a little lamp on high
To light up an azure sky.
Each a little lamp on high
To light up an azure sky.
Sounds incomprehensible
In the shining planets dwell
Of thy sister Queen to tell.
In the shining planets dwell
Of thy sister Queen to tell.
Of that sister Nature saith,
She hath power o'er life and breath;
And her name is written Death.
She hath power o'er life and breath;
And her name is written Death.
She is fairer far than thou;
Grief her head can never bow,
Joy is stamped upon her brow.
Grief her head can never bow,
Joy is stamped upon her brow.
142
She is full of gentleness,
And of faith and hope; distress
Finds in her forgetfulness.
And of faith and hope; distress
Finds in her forgetfulness.
In her arms who lieth down
Never more is seen to frown,
Tho' he wore a thorny crown.
Never more is seen to frown,
Tho' he wore a thorny crown.
Whoso sigheth in unrest
If his head lean on her breast
Witnesseth she is the best.
If his head lean on her breast
Witnesseth she is the best.
All the riches of the earth
Weighed by her are nothing worth;
She is the eternal birth.
Weighed by her are nothing worth;
She is the eternal birth.
In her treasure-house are found
Stored abundantly around
Almsdeeds done without a sound;
Stored abundantly around
Almsdeeds done without a sound;
Long forbearance; patient will;
Fortitude in midst of ill;
Hope, when even fear grew still;
Fortitude in midst of ill;
Hope, when even fear grew still;
Kindness given again for hate;
Hearts resigned tho' desolate;
Meekness, which is truly great;
Hearts resigned tho' desolate;
Meekness, which is truly great;
Bitter tears of penitence;
Changeless love's omnipotence:—
And nought lacketh recompense.
Changeless love's omnipotence:—
And nought lacketh recompense.
In her house no tainted thing
Winneth any entering;
There the poor have comforting.
Winneth any entering;
There the poor have comforting.
There they wait a little time
Till the angel-uttered chime
Sound the eternal matin-prime.
Till the angel-uttered chime
Sound the eternal matin-prime.
Then, upraised in joyfulness,
They shall know her; and confess
She is blessed and doth bless.
They shall know her; and confess
She is blessed and doth bless.
143
When earth's fleeting day is flown
All created things shall own,
Death is Life, and Death alone.
All created things shall own,
Death is Life, and Death alone.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |