If I Should Never Wake
By J. A. L. Derby
Good night, pale sun!
What if thy fading light,
While time shall run,
No more shall greet my sight?
A grander day than thine shall break in
radiance white.
Good night! Good night! Good night, fair earth,
Green earth, so dark, so bright!
Why for thy mirth
And sorrow longer fight?
A day shall break that grief can never
blight.
Good night! Good night! Good night, dear friends!
Why cling to love's delight,
While swift descends
Dark death to claim his right?
A day shall dure in love's eternal might.
Good night! Good night! Good night, ye dreams!
I dread no more your flight.
What tho your gleams
Were sweet in death's despite?
One day our souls shall live their dreams
by right.
Good night! Good night! Good night, my God!
Tho Thou dost leave me quite
To turn to sod,
From death's victorious might
Thou wilt awake me to the splendor
bright.
Till then, good night!