The Bridegroom Coming at Midnight

Dark fall the hours this win­ter-tide

Strange si­lence reigns on ev­ery side

And day seems wrapped in gloom

Save few short hours

which

all too brief

Light up bare tree and fall­en leaf

Then fade in hap­less doom.

Now let each lamp be burn­ing bright

Lest

un­aware

the sud­den night

Enshroud us in the dark

And we in vain

through snow and cold

With wa­ver­ing feet

seek out the fold

And Love’s all shel­ter­ing ark.

O si­lent hours of win­try days

From sum­mer’s joy and gold­en rays

From au­tumn’s har­vest song

We turn to you

for ye re­veal

The wait­ing bride

and make us feel

The Bride­groom comes ere long.