Night and Death

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“Night and Death,” also called, “To Night,” is the most famous poem of Blanco White; dedicated to Coleridge, who declared it the finest in the language. This edition was published in the “Poetry” section of the Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1835.

3040071Night and DeathBlanco White

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Mysterious Night, when the first man but knew
Thee by report, unseen, and heard thy name,
Did he not tremble for this lovely frame,
This glorious canopy of light and blue?
Yet ’neath a curtain of translucent dew,
Bathed in the rays of the great setting flame,
Hesperus with the Host of Heaven came,
And lo!—Creation widened on his view!
Who could have thought what darkness lay conceal’d
Within thy beams, O Sun? or who could find
Whilst fly, and leaf, and insect stood reveal’d
That to such endless orbs thou mad’st us blind?
Weak man, why to shun Death this anxious strife?
If light can thus deceive, wherefore not Life?