The day is ended! Ghostly shadows creep
Along each dim-lit wall and corridor.
The bugle sounds as from some faery shore
Silvered with sadness, somnolent and deep.
Darkness and bars . . . God! shall we curse or weep?
Somewhere a pipe is tapped upon the floor;
A guard slams shut the heavy iron door;
The day is ended–go to sleep–to sleep.
Three times it blows–weird lullaby of doom–
And then to dream while fecund Night gives birth
To other days like this day that is done. .
But Morning . . . does it live beyond the gloom–
This deep black pall that hangs above the earth–
He fears the dark who dares to doubt the sun!
(Ralph Chaplin)
More Poetry from Ralph Chaplin:
Ralph Chaplin Poems based on Topics: God, Sleep, Sadness- Salaam! (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
- The Red Feast (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
- Blood And Wine (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
- The Eunuch (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
- The Warrior Wind (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
- Up From Your Knees (Ralph Chaplin Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, Sadness Poems, Sleep PoemsBased on Keywords: fecund, dim-lit, slams, sleep-to