I kept the long watch on the western tower

All through one night, and had no friend

To keep it with me. I took post in time

To see the roof flood red at day's slow end.

I stood and watched the quiet light grow less

Across the towered town, and rose give way

To golden dusk, the walls and towers fade

And the last hill dissolve in heavy gray,

Till night was down and darkness on the world.

And for a h heart-flash beauty trembled there,

But beauty died, and silence and a grief

Caught at my throat for that great death. The air

Was coal and even the last twilight song

Of the birds was gone, and the town lay still

As if it waited. Then a silver light

Fell on the roofs. The moon was on the hill.

And there all night I watched the moon sail on

Across the cloudy heavens and go down

The skies. I watched the last small light wink out

And sleep fall heavy on the moonlit town.

Beauty was there again and dreamed with me

As I kept watch, and then I saw, and knew

That I stood guard for beauty, as men have

In every age, and as men always do.

Mid night passed with the solemn groaning bell,

And the morning hours dragged on and the cold

Silvered the walls with frosty faint design,

While the moon waned and the long night grew old.

The dark hours flowed past when all men slumber

Deepest. Death comes near them then, and night

Bears him close. The world shuddered in it's sleep,

And night passed on and life came back, and light.

The long watch of the night was nearly done

And I had watched with beauty one night through.

I saw her bloom and live and pass and die.

My soul was a faint and weary. Morning grew

Above the hill The sun flamed gold. I caught

My breath and stared. Across the blaze, birds flew

In one long black line.

Now my watch would go

On and on forever: this was beauty, too.