If you should fall asleep, once more,
And heed that soothing, calm refrain –
From evening’s care, close fast the door –
To quiet the distant, blowing rain :
Except those drops on earth that land
And tap upon its leafy coat
To drown out all the noise at hand -
A steady, never-changing note :
As morning church bells timely beat
For dawn, that had been led astray
By bold and cold night’s legioned feet,
To look in hope for coming day
And wonder : what has been forgot ?
For is that rain outside the door,
Or slow, sad tears that fears have wrought,
If you should fall asleep once more ?
If you should waken, once again,
To glimpse one, rosy ray of dawn
That tip-toes past dim window panes
And finds a blink to dance upon ;
That springs unseen from starry nest,
Past countless paths along the trek,
And wings intently t’ward its quest
Where it alights that destined speck :
As ancient westward winds blow o’er
The migrant cranes in autumn flight,
While children stand on ocean’s shore
To watch them sail beyond all sight
And wonder : what can yonder lie ?
For is that sight, by light regained,
Or shone from inward-looking eye,
If you should waken once again ?
Gerald Therrien is a researcher and historian based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Rising Tide Foundation. His writings have been published in the Canadian Patriot Review, including his four volumes of The Unveiling of Canadian History.