Some Edna St. Vincent Millay

Song of the Nations

Out of

Night and alarm,

Out of

Darkness and dread,

Out of old hate,

Grudge and distrust,

Sin and remorse,

Passion and blindness;

Shall come

Dawn and the birds,

Shall come

Slacking of greed,

Snapping of fear—

Love shall fold warm like a cloak

Round the shuddering earth

Till the sound of its woe cease.

After

Terrible dreams,

After

Crying in sleep,

Grief beyond thought,

Twisting of hands,

Tears from shut lids

Wetting the pillow;

Shall come

Sun on the wall,

Shall come

Sounds from the street,

Children at play–

Bubbles too big blown, and dreams

Filled too heavy with horror

Will burst and in mist fall.

Sing then,

You who were dumb,

Shout then

Into the dark;

Are we not one?

Are not our hearts

Hot from one fire,

And in one mold cast?

Out of

Night and alarm,

Out of

Terrible dreams,

Reach me your hand,

This is the meaning of all that we

Suffered in sleep,–the white peace

Of the waking.