At last the day is done, my little darling
The sun has set across the rolling hills,
The twilight air is filled with crickets singing.
Across the fields I hear the whippoorwills.
As evening slowly shades away to darkness
And skies above put on a deeper glow,
My heart calls out in need of someone’s presence
If you were here, my soul would overflow.
Here in my room I’m seated at my table
Excuse me while I wipe away a tear,
This is my task, to tell you how I love you,
To show you that I miss you, need you near.
Some how I can’t explain this heavy sadness,
I’m not afraid of work that’s to be done,
I only need your presence and your gladness,
These from the heart that I have finally won.
I see you now as in my mind I vision
A sacred scene of ours, across the miles,
Some other twilight hour, without permission,
I held your tender hands, and kissed your smiles.
We raised our eyes and looked into God’s starlight
And let our inner thoughts ascend in prayer.
We listened to the gentle wind of twilight,
Together and alone we nestled there.
My sorrow gone I now return to study
These thoughts of you have dried away my tears.
For soon, amid that swift approaching future,
Together we will face the unseen years.
(written to my wife, Beth, July 1, 1943)