<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Sleep</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">God</span> thought of sleep, so that He might</p><p class="line">Cradle His Man in the cool night</p><p class="line">With more than mother's love, and hold</p><p class="line">Warm to His breast the child of old.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Poor Man, that is so proud and high,</p><p class="line">Yet he must fall asleep and lie</p><p class="line">Open to all the winds and harms,</p><p class="line">Unless God rocks him in His arms.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Poor Man, though all besmirched, shall keep</p><p class="line">Yet the last innocence of sleep,</p><p class="line">And like a child must lie alone</p><p class="line">Defenceless, harmless, overthrown.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God's gentleness with sinners see!</p><p class="line">In sleep they will not disagree</p><p class="line">Nor hurt as only lovers can;</p><p class="line">They are at one, God and His Man.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Tenderly night shall find him, held</p><p class="line">To a kind breast, who late rebelled;</p><p class="line">New-reconciled with kisses he</p><p class="line">Shall slumber on a mighty knee.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Man's but a toddling child, stripped bare</p><p class="line">Of all the countless years that were;</p><p class="line">Little and low: God's art to keep</p><p class="line">A youngling thing in His arms asleep.</p></div></body></html> · Great War