[When Evensong]

When evensong has long been done
     And children gone to sleep
Then every of the sparkling ones
     Come rumbling from the deep
They ride no steed, nor bear no arms
     They’ve left them in their keep
And on the towers of the world
     They watch over our sleep

The city holds its quietude
     Amongst the roar and din
While all the twinkling silent brood
     Keeps vigil o’er our kin
And foggy dawn ne’er does break
     Whilst glitt’ring ancients spy
To glimpse a man or woman wake
     And softly start to cry

Before the morning light comes here
     The keepers’ fly their post
To sink into the nighted mere
     From whence came all their host
Our man and woman’s children dear
     Afraid to wake from dreams
Know never that their needless Fears
     Were those that ceased their screams