Faces In the Night

When the campfire’s out and you try to sleep, But things don’t seem just right— You toss and turn on that ol’ hard bedroll And see faces in the night. It just may be dreams or a sense of guilt That now keeps you wide awake— It may be bad stew or a wrong you did-- A friend you had to forsake. You shut your eyes tight and let darkness come— Pray those faces don’t appear— But they always come and silently speak To your conscience and your fear. You see father’s face like it was those days And wish you’d both had more time— To ease all the things that then stood between Before he died in his prime. And then there’s the face of your bother Tom, Who worshipped you like a God— Till he had fever and you laughed if off— Then buried him in the sod. But night always brings another dim face Of the girl that you loved first— Before she went and married someone else, And how your heart about burst.. So when the dawn comes to strike you awake, And with tired relief you rise— You still see those faces in sun’s red glare And know part of you yet dies. Too soon again bright campfires now burn low, As the sunset still brings fright— For you know that sleep is not a good friend And brings faces in the night.