Nocturne

Dearest Ann, my sweeting,
softly you lie sleeping,
from my arms now turned away
into night’s safe keeping.

Dearest Ann, my sweeting,
softly you lie sleeping,
all your charms and lovely way
wrapped in night’s pure keeping.

Dearest Ann, my sweeting,
softly you lie sleeping.
Nothing harms you, nothing may,
in night’s loving-keeping.

Dearest, at our meeting,
with a spark of greeting
love disarms us . . . but till day
softly you lie sleeping.