Whippoorwill Time

Let down the bars; drive in the cows: The west is barred with burning rose. Unhitch the horses from the ploughs, And from the cart the ox that lows, And light the lamp within the house: The whippoorwill is calling, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill,' Where the locust blooms are falling On the hill; The sunset's rose is dying, And the whippoorwill is crying, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill'; Soft, now shrill, The whippoorwill is crying, 'Whippoorwill.' Unloose the watch-dog from his chain: The first stars wink their drowsy eyes: A sheep-bell tinkles in the lane, And where the shadow deepest lies A lamp makes bright the window-pane: The whippoorwill is calling, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill,' Where the berry-blooms are falling On the rill; The first faint stars are springing, And the whippoorwill is singing, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill'; Softly still The whippoorwill is singing, 'Whippoorwill.' The cows are milked; the cattle fed; The last far streaks of evening fade: The farm-hand whistles in the shed, And in the house the table's laid; Its lamp streams on the garden-bed: The whippoorwill is calling, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill,' Where the dogwood blooms are falling On the hill; The afterglow is waning And the whippoorwill's complaining, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill'; Wild and shrill, The whippoorwill's complaining, 'Whippoorwill.' The moon blooms out, a great white rose; The stars wheel onward toward the west: The barnyard-cock wakes once and crows; The farm is wrapped in peaceful rest; The cricket chirs; the firefly glows The whippoorwill is calling, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill,' Where the bramble-blooms are falling On the rill; The moon her watch is keeping And the whippoorwill is weeping, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill'; Lonely still, The whippoorwill is weeping, 'Whippoorwill.'