Light at Eventide

Day is far spent

the sha­dows length­en round us

Bright shine the gates of sun­set on our sight;

Break one by one the ten­der ties that bound us

Yet to our souls at ev­en­ing there is light.

Long tossed by waves

by tem­pests beat and broken

Fair sleeps our port be­neath the sun­set blest;

Calmly we glide to realms of peace un­brok­en

In that bright hav­en of eter­nal rest.

Breezes of balm blow from those shores im­mor­tal;

Soft sleep the bil­lows in the ra­di­ance fair;

Angelic forms be­side each heav’n­ly por­tal

Wait to re­ceive

and bid us wel­come there.

No foe­man’s oar shall vex those pla­cid wa­ters

No gal­lant ship shall ev­er pass there­by;

No part­ing friends

or weep­ing sons and daugh­ters

Shall breathe their sighs be­neath that cloud­less day.

Hushed is the jar of earth’s dis­cord­ant nois­es;

Blest is the si­lence

ho­ly is the calm;

While from the shore sound pure im­mor­tal voic­es

Chanting sweet snatch­es of an an­gel’s psalm.

Farewell to earth

its sor­rows and its glad­ness;

Its clouds and gloom are fad­ing from my sight;

Welcome the shores that know no tears or sad­ness

The day de­clines; at ev­en­ing there is light!