John Drinkwater

Dusk

Slowly, slowly, pass away
 Images my mind has held
In companionship of day—
 In the sunbeams beauty-spelled;
  Slowly, slowly, wanes the sun,
  Till with shadows they are one.

Planets that outpace the moon
 Waken on a dusky sky;
Waters that outshone the noon
 Darken slowly, slowly die;
  Scarlet poppies in the gloom
  Drowsing burn a deeper bloom.

Slowly, slowly, sleep comes on,
 Stealing, sealing everything;
All the dog-roses are gone,
 Folded now is every wing;
  All the witnesses of day
  Slowly, slowly, pass away.