English poem
Sonnets, Songs, and Occasional Verses, Song
by William Hayley (1745–1820)
Stay! O stay, thou lovely shade Brought by sleep to sorrow's aid: Ah! the sweet illusion ends! Light and Reason, cruel friends! Bid me not, with frantic care, Vainly worship fleeting air!
Night, return on rapid wing! Round my head thy poppies fling! Hateful day! thy reign be brief! Darkness is the friend of grief. Could'st thou, sleep! my dream restore, I should wish to wake no more.