Light and Shadow

Life, thou wert once so sweet, so bright,
I grudged each hour that slumber stole
From happy Day— through happy Night
Brought ever dreams of new delight
To haunt the chambers of my soul.
Now thou art all so dark, so drear,
I pray for sleep to drown the pain,
Though in his grisly train appear
A thousand phantom-shapes of fear
To wring the heart and sere the brain.