Over the edge of the purple down,
    Where the single lamplight gleams,
Know ye the road to the Merciful Town
    That is hard by the Sea of Dreams --
Where the poor may lay their wrongs away,
    And the sick may forget to weep?
But we -- pity us! Oh, pity us!
    We wakeful; ah, pity us! --
We must go back with Policeman Day --
    Back from the City of Sleep!

Weary they turn from the scroll and crown,
    Fetter and prayer and plough --
They that go up to the Merciful Town,
    For her gates are closing now.
It is their right in the Baths of Night
    Body and soul to steep,
But we -- pity us! ah, pity us!
    We wakeful; oh, pity us! --
We must go back with Policeman Day --
    Back from the City of Sleep!

Over the edge of the purple down,
    Ere the tender dreams begin,
Look -- we may look -- at the Merciful Town,
    But we may not enter in!
Outcasts all, from her guarded wall
    Back to our watch we creep:
We -- pity us! ah, pity us!
    We wakeful; ah, pity us! --
We that go back with Policeman Day --
    Back from the City of Sleep!