Annie C. Shipley
1875 - 1946 USA
Till Dawn
I walked through a waste with a deep pervading drear,
Through all the day the sun was fixed and gave
A somber glow; the gloom - forbidding, grave -
Forecast an overwhelming dread and fear
That merged with doubt and left me dumb and seer.
No petal bloomed, there was no stream to lave
The brow, nor cooling drink which I might crave,
No bird, nor beast, no human thing was near.
And onward through the vague of night I strove
Against the warping void to break its thong
And yearned for dawn through all that fearful way,
Which was a scorching sand that urged and drove
With unrelenting force, - then mist and song,
And sweep of light with thrilling hope and day.
1875 - 1946 USA
Till Dawn
I walked through a waste with a deep pervading drear,
Through all the day the sun was fixed and gave
A somber glow; the gloom - forbidding, grave -
Forecast an overwhelming dread and fear
That merged with doubt and left me dumb and seer.
No petal bloomed, there was no stream to lave
The brow, nor cooling drink which I might crave,
No bird, nor beast, no human thing was near.
And onward through the vague of night I strove
Against the warping void to break its thong
And yearned for dawn through all that fearful way,
Which was a scorching sand that urged and drove
With unrelenting force, - then mist and song,
And sweep of light with thrilling hope and day.