JOHN MACFARLANE
I STOOD and saw the angel of the dawn,Whose rest had been in heaven the dark night through,Pressing, with jewelled feet, the silent lawnIn radiant robes of dew.And slowly to the west, in ebon gloom,Upbearing in his lifted hands on highThe scroll of destiny—of life and doom—The night-watch passëd by.But ere he turned his step from earth awayI gazed upon his countenance again,And, lo! I thought upon his brow there layA shadow as of pain.But he, the brother-angel of the day,Bore on his breast the beaming star of hope,And in his golden chalice balm, alway,On bruisëd hearts to drop.And so to men there cometh evermoreOne angel fraught with promise, making glad;And one who taketh from the stricken soreMuch anguish, wild and sad.
I STOOD and saw the angel of the dawn,Whose rest had been in heaven the dark night through,Pressing, with jewelled feet, the silent lawnIn radiant robes of dew.And slowly to the west, in ebon gloom,Upbearing in his lifted hands on highThe scroll of destiny—of life and doom—The night-watch passëd by.But ere he turned his step from earth awayI gazed upon his countenance again,And, lo! I thought upon his brow there layA shadow as of pain.But he, the brother-angel of the day,Bore on his breast the beaming star of hope,And in his golden chalice balm, alway,On bruisëd hearts to drop.And so to men there cometh evermoreOne angel fraught with promise, making glad;And one who taketh from the stricken soreMuch anguish, wild and sad.
I STOOD and saw the angel of the dawn,Whose rest had been in heaven the dark night through,Pressing, with jewelled feet, the silent lawnIn radiant robes of dew.
I STOOD and saw the angel of the dawn,
Whose rest had been in heaven the dark night through,
Pressing, with jewelled feet, the silent lawn
In radiant robes of dew.
And slowly to the west, in ebon gloom,Upbearing in his lifted hands on highThe scroll of destiny—of life and doom—The night-watch passëd by.
And slowly to the west, in ebon gloom,
Upbearing in his lifted hands on high
The scroll of destiny—of life and doom—
The night-watch passëd by.
But ere he turned his step from earth awayI gazed upon his countenance again,And, lo! I thought upon his brow there layA shadow as of pain.
But ere he turned his step from earth away
I gazed upon his countenance again,
And, lo! I thought upon his brow there lay
A shadow as of pain.
But he, the brother-angel of the day,Bore on his breast the beaming star of hope,And in his golden chalice balm, alway,On bruisëd hearts to drop.
But he, the brother-angel of the day,
Bore on his breast the beaming star of hope,
And in his golden chalice balm, alway,
On bruisëd hearts to drop.
And so to men there cometh evermoreOne angel fraught with promise, making glad;And one who taketh from the stricken soreMuch anguish, wild and sad.
And so to men there cometh evermore
One angel fraught with promise, making glad;
And one who taketh from the stricken sore
Much anguish, wild and sad.