AN ANSWER
The night was curtained with darkness,—
Fringed deeply with mist and rain,
And I, through the lingering moments,
Lay clasped in the arms of pain,—
Close clasped in the arms of pain.
Fringed deeply with mist and rain,
And I, through the lingering moments,
Lay clasped in the arms of pain,—
Close clasped in the arms of pain.
I was tired, so tired, with counting
The wearisome hours go by;
And prayers for release from anguish,
Went up with a ceaseless cry,—
The grief of a ceaseless cry.
The wearisome hours go by;
And prayers for release from anguish,
Went up with a ceaseless cry,—
The grief of a ceaseless cry.
At last, worn and sad with the conflict,
I prayed just for strength to endure;
That I might not forget in my sorrow,
That our Father's compassion is sure,—
Always unfading and sure.
I prayed just for strength to endure;
That I might not forget in my sorrow,
That our Father's compassion is sure,—
Always unfading and sure.
And then though my anguish still held me,
O'er my soul crept a comforting peace;
Tender strength sustaining my weakness,
Like a promise of future release,—
From my pain a certain release.
O'er my soul crept a comforting peace;
Tender strength sustaining my weakness,
Like a promise of future release,—
From my pain a certain release.
Then Sleep, with her garland of poppies,
Laid her soft hand over my eyes;
Sleeping, I woke with my pain all gone,
To my thankful, glad surprise,—
My unspeakably glad surprise.
Laid her soft hand over my eyes;
Sleeping, I woke with my pain all gone,
To my thankful, glad surprise,—
My unspeakably glad surprise.
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