Poem by Richard Watson Gilder

The New Day. Part 2. 5. And Were That Best!

And were that best, Love, dreamless, endless sleep!
     ⁠Gone all the fury of the mortal day—
⁠     The daylight gone, and gone the starry ray!
⁠     And were that best, Love, rest serene and deep!
Gone labor and desire; no arduous steep
⁠     To climb, no songs to sing, no prayers to pray,
     ⁠No help for those who perish by the way,
⁠     No laughter 'mid our tears, no tears to weep!
And were that best, Love, sleep with no dear dream,
⁠     Nor memory of anything in life—
     ⁠Stark death that neither help nor hurt can know!
O, rather, far, the sorrow-bringing gleam,
⁠     The living day's long agony and strife!
⁠     Rather strong love in pain; the waking woe! 

1. The New Day. Part 4. 2. The Mirror
2. The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 3. A Madonna of Fra Lippo Lippi
3. The New Day. Part 3. 5. “I Will Be Brave for Thee”
4. The New Day. Part 4. 16. “Love Is Not Bond to Any Man”
5. The New Day. Part 2. 1. Words without Song

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