Forsake me not, O Light of many days!
Low sinks the westering sun;
An amethystine haze
Flushes with purple all the upland ways;
The shadows lengthen in the twilight glow,
And well I know
That day is almost done!
Thou whom I worshipped when my life was new,
Say not that we must part!
I have been leal and true,
Loving thee better as the swift years flew,
With such pure homage that nor time nor change
Could e’er estrange
From thee my constant heart.
When I was but a child I heard thy voice,
And followed thee afar
In humble, happy choice,
Content in this far following to rejoice;
Didst thou but whisper, heaven and earth grew bright
With holy light,
Clearer than sun or star.
I dared not kiss thy garment’s hem, nor lay
One pale flower at thy feet:
It was enough to stray
In a child’s dream of thee by night, by day,
In tremulous ecstasy to feel thee near,
And half in fear,
Half joy, thy coming greet.
For thou wert one with nature. All things fair
Spoke to my soul of thee:
The azure depths of air,
Sunrise, and starbeam, and the moonlight rare,
Splendor of summer, winter’s frost and snow,
Autumn’s rich glow,
Bird, river, flower, and tree.
Thou wert in love’s first whisper, and the slow
Thrill of its dying kiss;
In the strong ebb and flow
Of the resistless tides of joy and woe;
In life’s supremest hour thou hadst a share,
Its stress of prayer,
Its rapturous trance of bliss!
Leave me not now when the long shadows fall
Athwart the sunset bars;
Hold thou my soul in thrall
Till it shall answer to a mightier call;
Remain thou with me till the holy night
Puts out the light—
And kindles all the stars!