The love of the world it slides away.
God send us quietness!
The night is stiller than the day,
And though the light be less
White stars are gleaming from the deep
And purple vast of sky.
The road unto the stars is steep,
But dreams may fly.

The stillness of the night is kind,
And when the stars wax few
There steals upon the cheek a wind
Of sweetness and of dew.
Slumber advances and recedes
In delicate caprice
That life may learn how much it needs
And longs for peace.

The dulcimer of patience hath
A music all its own;
Outwearing joy and grief and wrath,
A tender monotone
To soothe us till o'er sense and sprite
The enshadowing hush is drawn,
And down the solemn tides of night
We drift toward dawn.