<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">All Souls' Night</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> door of Heaven is on the latch</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To-night, and many a man is fain</p><p class="line">To steal back and keep the watch</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With his Love again.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Now the children are in bed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She hath spread the board, the fire's warm</p><p class="line">Lest any come for heart's bread</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In from the storm.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The twigs tap against the pane,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dead leaves drift upon the door.</p><p class="line">Oh, who comes from the night and rain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As oft before?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">His coat is damp with night-dew,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His cheek is wet against her cheek.</p><p class="line">They kiss long as they used to do</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Before they speak.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They sit down to the lit board;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With meat and wine he shall be fed.</p><p class="line">And there is many a sweet word</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That must be said.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Many a word of comforting</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Is said before the cock crow</p><p class="line">When they shall kiss and they shall cling,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But he must go.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When all the world is fast asleep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">There's light in her window-pane</p><p class="line">Where she and her Love the watch keep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">This night again.</p></div></body></html> · Great War