Approach of the Night; Break of Day

Approach of the Night
(To those who are certain it is coming)

Now the light is sinking fast.
We cling to hope that it will last;
For if it fades, all things are o'er,
But if it stays, I die no more.

Now the light is almost gone.
We fear the night and hope for dawn.
We, silent, hide from all the fray,
And, blind, we shiver and decay.

Now the light is gone, below
The earth, and all we had will go.
The whirling night's a mad maelstrom.
This is the time to say, "Salaam!"

T. G. 12/14/14

Break of Day
(To those who know that day follow night)

The Dark is all around us now.
We still have hope, I know not how.
The dawn will come, we know it well.

We will escape this ghastly hell.

The sudden light, though just a line,

Tells us, "Everything will be fine."

We wait for daybreak, and for light.

Gone will be soon the dark of night.

The burst of day, the rising dawn!

The dark that filled the world is gone.

But those whose hearts were in despair

Only sufferings now must bear.

T. G. 12/14/14