At midnight I awoke and looked up to the heavens; no star on the teeming firmament smiled upon me at midnight. At midnight my thoughts stretched out into the furthest reaches of darkness. No image of light brought me consolation at midnight. At midnight I heeded the beat of my heart; a single throb of pain was roused at midnight. At midnight I fought the battle of humanity, of your suffering; I could not resolve it with all my might at midnight. At midnight I yielded all my might into your hand: Lord over death and life, You stand guard at midnight.