Poems (Hoffman)/At Eventide It Shall Be Light

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

"AT EVENTIDE IT SHALL BE LIGHT."

Clouded and dark was life's little day,
To the weary one passing through waters deep;
But at last the tempest all cleared away,
For the night of death cometh when all shall sleep.
And the eventide followeth after the day,
And the eventide cometh before the night;
And to him who waiteth patiently,
"At eventide it shall be light."

The night of death closed life's little day,
And nothing was left but a grass-grown heap;
And gone was that sunset of ecstasy,
Ere the night of death coming had bid him sleep.
But up to the Sun of Righteousness,
The glorified spirit winged its flight;
The source of that Heaven-born happiness,
"At eventide it shall be light,"

O weary journey, O dark, dark day!
O thorns and chaff that so many reap;
"Till the tired spirit waiteth longingly,
For the night of death coming to bid it sleep!
No more shall tempest with withering breath,
Nor hopeless vigil, nor sleepless night;
But the loving presence that whispereth:
"At eventide it shall be light."

Ye storms and clouds of life's little day,
Across my sky in your blackness sweep,
If only a light shine on my way,
When the night of death coming shall bid me sleep.
If only Hope's bright, immortal ray
Fall peacefully on my raptured sight;
From the Lamb that lighteth the perfect day,
"At eventide it shall be light."