Classic Poem

GOOD-NIGHT, O Earth! the nights are growing long;
The days are brief;
Life hath one solemn burden for its song:
“As fades the leaf.”

Good-night, poor World! if thou art full of sin
Why so am I!
In this proud heart to judge would I begin,
Nor self pass by.

Good-night, my foe! not all the wrong was thine;
My share I own;
Forgive!—we, human, know one word Divine;
The sun goes down.

Good-night, good friend! though poor my gifts to thee
I will not fret;
The richer thou whose bounty is so free,
And sweet my debt.

No longer to revenge nor to repay
I strive or seek;
Empty I came, must empty go away,—
Empty and weak.

As one who wakes no more to smile or weep
Another day,
So would I lay me humbly down to sleep
And humbly say:

Dear Lord, who hadst not where to lay Thy head,
As poor were I
Did not Thy mercy make for me a bed
Whereon to die.