-- Hymn to Midnight --

John Herlihy

The moment has arrived of midnight hush;

Stars dwindle, but the pale moon will blush.

The wind dies down to the faintest chime,

A cold presence fills this hour sublime.

The middle of night fills hearts with dread,

The chill of winter warms hearts of the dead.

Sorcerers and witches assume special power,

Touched by the magic of this sanctified hour.

Angels descend from above, take me by hand,

The all-entangling snares of vice to withstand.

Time enough to sleep until the wake of morn,

Free from ills of the world ‘til dawn is drawn.

New life is born into the breath of midnight,

Drawn from the breast of a universal light.

And in this light the rays of truth are born,

Woven in the fabric of the universe to adorn.

Let not the arch tempter whisper into my ear;

May the chimes of midnight hover forever near.

Let not dark nightmares my serenity destroy;

Ill-timed to interfere with my fully hallowed joy.

And so I rest until the day comes with the dawn

Leaving midnight behind until a new night is born.

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(c) John Herlihy

9 October 2019