Poem by James Weldon Johnson

Mother Night

    Eternities before the first-born day,
      Or ere the first sun fledged his wings of flame,
      Calm Night, the everlasting and the same,
    A brooding mother over chaos lay.
    And whirling suns shall blaze and then decay,
      Shall run their fiery courses and then claim
      The haven of the darkness whence they came;
    Back to Nirvanic peace shall grope their way.

    So when my feeble sun of life burns out,
      And sounded is the hour for my long sleep,
       I shall, full weary of the feverish light,
    Welcome the darkness without fear or doubt,
      And heavy-lidded, I shall softly creep
       Into the quiet bosom of the Night.

1. The Color Sergeant
2. Answer to Prayer
3. Down by the Carib Sea. 6. Sunset in the Tropics
4. O Southland!
5. Down by the Carib Sea. 1. Sunrise in the Tropics

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