Poems (Sharpless)/Day-Dawn
DAY-DAWN
Within the old town tower alone I stand:
The city lies asleep beneath my eyes:
The morning dawns far in the eastern skies:
The red glow widening tinges all the land.
The city lies asleep beneath my eyes:
The morning dawns far in the eastern skies:
The red glow widening tinges all the land.
Dark roofs below me, tell what scenes ye screen,
Of mirth, of folly, and oh me! what woe!
You may not speak the secrets that you know,
And throw a romance over homes now mean.
Of mirth, of folly, and oh me! what woe!
You may not speak the secrets that you know,
And throw a romance over homes now mean.
What fearful, silent battles do you hide
Of vice and want with this frail faith of ours?
Blessed is he who conquers these grim powers,
And trusting God, a brighter day abides!
Of vice and want with this frail faith of ours?
Blessed is he who conquers these grim powers,
And trusting God, a brighter day abides!
Oh Hope! oh Faith! see yonder comes the sun,
His beams illume the house-tops, spires, and domes;
Some rays will wander to the lowliest homes,
To cheer the souls that must still labor on.
His beams illume the house-tops, spires, and domes;
Some rays will wander to the lowliest homes,
To cheer the souls that must still labor on.
Peace, doubting heart! tho' dark and ill appears
Humanity's great seething mass of souls,
Bide thou a little! from the east there rolls
A glorious promise for the coming years.
Humanity's great seething mass of souls,
Bide thou a little! from the east there rolls
A glorious promise for the coming years.
No heart so humble but that gracious Sun,
The Sun of Righteousness will reach to aid;
No one so erring but his sins be made
Whiter than snow beneath that benison.
The Sun of Righteousness will reach to aid;
No one so erring but his sins be made
Whiter than snow beneath that benison.
With healing in His wings! behold Him rise
O'er all the world; yet to thy loving heart
As near as though alone with Him thou wert:
Such care hath God had for man's destinies.
O'er all the world; yet to thy loving heart
As near as though alone with Him thou wert:
Such care hath God had for man's destinies.