Sonnet (modern, with eleven syllables)

When at last the sun has set and night has come
When at last the darkness falls and day is done
We will gladly sigh and go to take our ease
We will gladly find the blissful call of sleep

When at last the stars come out and and show their light
When at last the moon shows round and shimmers nigh
We will gladly say the summer’s come indeed
We will gladly breathe this warmest ev’ning breeze

When at last the atmosphere begins to cool
When at last the air fades purplish from blue
We will gladly sleep content that night is long
We will gladly lay in bed until the dawn

When at last the sun arises from its bed
We will gladly rise up strengthened by our rest

I stand at gated wall, I stand and stare and sadly sigh
At how my soul should leap and soar, if ‘twere not bound by these
Unceasing ever present fears: that men will mock or scorn,
Until at last my dreams are rent and shatter’d through and through.
If days should pass and night should come without my having seen
A glimmer of success, what then would be my life? A pale,
A timid shadow of a thing? Or would it matter still?

There’s gospel hope amid the pain, and life beyond these walls,
Though oft ‘tis hard to see. Should life be spent and body worn
Till light no longer can be seen, and never had my name
Been known, still crowns I’d have to cast before his mighty throne
In spite of walls and mockery, if ev’ry rising of the sun
I did resolve to live for glory, live for joy. And so
I shall, and persevere until my glorious end arrive.