The night is now far gone, the day at hand, we say, though nothing lights the eastern sky; no golden morning rises on the land; unbroken night enfolds the watching eye. But longing so we cannot sleep, we stand and wait for day to break for us on high. As no one saw the infant in the womb or felt his leaping, so the night wears on: We would not see a nova in the gloom ‘til eons passed, yet where the darkness yawns the flare is born, and sure within his tomb a light was kindled long before the dawn. Let hope be honest when it most seems false as we face eastward, absent any glow. We see not, nor we hear, and all sense dulls, but still the heart conceives and still we know, who tremble with the echoes of your pulse, that somewhere in this dark, O Lord, you grow.
Thank you for this, Kate. "Love always hopes," even when grieving. I thought of you and Brit and Kilby when I read Christina Rosetti this morning. All three of you have a way of expressing truth so it nestles deeper into my being.
This brought me to tears. “Let hope be honest when it most seems false"... Praise God that what is unseen is eternal and what is seen isn't all that's there.
Thank you for this, Kate. "Love always hopes," even when grieving. I thought of you and Brit and Kilby when I read Christina Rosetti this morning. All three of you have a way of expressing truth so it nestles deeper into my being.
Thank you so much!
Fantastic last stanza! “Let hope be honest when it most seems false…” caught my breath a little.
Oh, thank you so much! I had to rewrite that stanza extensively, but I couldn't let that line go. I'm glad it worked!
It worked beautifully. So glad you kept it.
This brought me to tears. “Let hope be honest when it most seems false"... Praise God that what is unseen is eternal and what is seen isn't all that's there.
Amen!
The last lines are so beautiful! I featured this poem in my latest Poetry Pie newsletter:
https://whomadetheeyes.com/poetry-pie-nov-30-2025-advent/
Thank you so much!
Wonderful! I really enjoyed this, especially those last two lines.
Thank you!
Reminds me of your THAT HE SHOULD COME IN WINTER. If I ever sent Christmas greetings, I’d send that poem!