Five Dunbar Lyrics

The mist has left the greening plain,
The dew-drops shine like fairy rain,
The coquette rose awakes again
   Her lovely self adorning.
The Wind is hiding in the trees,
A sighing, soothing, laughing tease,
Until the rose says "Kiss me, please,"
'Tis morning, 'tis morning.

With staff in hand and careless-free,
The wanderer fares right jauntily,
For towns and houses are, thinks he,
   For scorning, for scorning.
My soul is swift upon the wing,
And in its deeps a song I bring;
Come, Love, and we together sing,
   "'Tis morning, 'tis morning."

The gray dawn on the mountain top
   Is slow to pass away.
Still lays him by in sluggish dreams,
   The golden God of day.

And then a light along the hills,
   Your laughter silvery gay;
The Sun God wakes, a bluebird trills,
You come and it is day.

I did not know that life could be so sweet,
I did not know the hours could speed so fleet,
Till I knew you, and life was sweet again.
The days grew brief with love and lack of pain—

I was a slave a few short days ago,
The powers of Kings and Princes now I know;
I would not be again in bondage,
save I had your smile, the liberty I crave.

The river sleeps beneath the sky,
And clasps the shadows to its breast;
The crescent moon shines dim on high;
And in the lately radiant west

The gold is fading into gray.
Now stills the lark his festive lay,
And mourns with me the dying day.
While in the south the first faint star
Lifts to the night its silver face,
And twinkles to the moon afar
Across the heaven’s graying space,
Low murmurs reach me from the town,
As Day puts on her sombre crown,
And shakes her mantle darkly down.

The lark is silent in his nest,
  The breeze is sighing in its flight,
Sleep, Love, and peaceful be thy rest.
  Good-night, my love, good-night, good-night.

Sweet dreams attend thee in thy sleep,
  To soothe thy rest till morning's light,
And angels round thee vigil keep.
  Good-night, my love, good-night, good-night.

Sleep well, my love, on night's dark breast,
  And ease thy soul with slumber bright;
Be joy but thine and I am blest.
  Good-night, my love, good-night, good-night.