The earth is all in shadow,
The heavens alone are bright;
Deep after deep of splendor
Is breaking out of night.
I climbed the lone watch-tower,
The dark and winding stair,
To see a world that lieth
In glory unaware.
Below me in the darkness
Are some that sigh in sleep;
Some weary with the slumber,
And some that wake to weep.
And here and there One goeth
With footsteps still and light,
"Come up, and I will show thee
The secret of the night."
Come to the lone watchtower,
O ye that fear and wait
Within the straightened army,
And listen for your fate.
And ye that sigh for morning,
Come, look with steadfast gaze,
Till prayer, with face uplifted
Is glorified to praise.
"What seest thou from thy tower,
O watcher of the night?"
"Above the camp beleaguered
A sign of growing light.
"Hearest thou the foe advancing.
With swift and stealthy tread?"
I hear a host rejoicing,
A shouting overhead.
Ten thousand times ten thousand,
In armor holy-bright,
The helpers and the watchers
Come flashing through the night.
I see the years eternal,
Upon their shining way,
And I know that mortal sorrow
Is a thing of yesterday.
How clear across the darkness
Height answereth to height,
As brother calls to brother
The watchword of the night;
The sleepers wake and listen,
The mourners cry, How long?
And softly falls the answer,
A blessing and a song.
