Poems (Hoffman)/At Eventide It Shall Be Light
"AT EVENTIDE IT SHALL BE LIGHT."
Clouded and dark was life's little day,To the weary one passing through waters deep;But at last the tempest all cleared away,For the night of death cometh when all shall sleep.And the eventide followeth after the day,And the eventide cometh before the night;And to him who waiteth patiently,"At eventide it shall be light."
The night of death closed life's little day,And nothing was left but a grass-grown heap;And gone was that sunset of ecstasy,Ere the night of death coming had bid him sleep.But up to the Sun of Righteousness,The glorified spirit winged its flight;The source of that Heaven-born happiness,"At eventide it shall be light,"
O weary journey, O dark, dark day!O thorns and chaff that so many reap;'Till the tired spirit waiteth longingly,For the night of death coming to bid it sleep!No more shall tempest with withering breath,Nor hopeless vigil, nor sleepless night;But the loving presence that whispereth:"At eventide it shall be light."
Ye storms and clouds of life's little day,Across my sky in your blackness sweep,If only a light shine on my way,When the night of death coming shall bid me sleep.If only Hope's bright, immortal rayFall peacefully on my raptured sight;From the Lamb that lighteth the perfect day,"At eventide it shall be light."