Come, O light before the dawn, and be bright
fierily and fair; come, be beauty's maid,
signal the very end of ebon night
wherein the spirits soared through sky and shade:
come, O light, signal the change to day
that arrives on wings of light and fire. Come,
spurn for the nonce those shapes that gather nigh--
whilst ghosts, spirits and goblins know their sway
is due to fade, whilst shadows whelm the rum,
your light's life's herald, seizes soul and sky.
Ghosts will go, be gone--they will fade to naught
just as to havens vampires fleetly flee,
alien cats away, though seldom caught,
and serpents slink below the seething sea;
the nymphs will turn, returning home again
unto the trees, orbs will fade as to dust,
and ignis faatui fly, hide their flame
whilst your light adorns the sky: I am fain
to praise the false dawn: it is fair, I lust
when I dream for day, darkness to break, shame.
Come, be truly fair unto me, be all
to banish cares and spectres fair or foul;
come, be truly fair, summon me and call
heart to heart, O my dreaming landscapes caul.
Salve as all salves must salve: ease me and heal
as mystic philtres ease a weary heart....
Make me as one before the night is done;
truly I see you, fair, truly I feel
as a man salved by mystic deeds or art
afore the very dawn has even begun.