Departure

Up, O ye lovers, and away! ‘Tis time to leave the world for aye. Hark, loud and clear from heaven the from of parting calls-let none delay! The cameleer hat risen amain, made ready all the camel-train, And quittance now desires to gain: why sleep ye, travellers, I pray? Behind us and before there swells the din of parting and of bells; To shoreless space each moment sails a disembodied spirit away. From yonder starry lights, and through those curtain-awnings darkly blue, Mysterious figures float in view, all strange and secret things display. From this orb, wheeling round its pole, a wondrous slumber o’er thee stole: O weary life that weighest naught, O sleep that on my soul dost weigh! O heart, toward they heart’s love wend, and O friend, fly toward the Friend, Be wakeful, watchman, to the end: drowse seemingly no watchman may.