midnight
In the glare of noon , when everything else seems drowsy in the heat , and the men lie down exhausted in the suffocating trenches -- the iron voice tolls on . In the calm of evening , when the breeze is hushed and still , and the violet sea is sleeping in the twilight -- the iron voice tolls on . So when the flowers are opening in the morning , and the birds begin to sing , and reviving nature , fresh and dewy , seems to scatter health and peace and good-will over the earth -- the iron voice tolls on . Nay , when you wake at midnight in your tent from a dream of your far-away home -- oh ! what a different scene to this ! -- tired as you may be , ere you have turned to sleep once more , you hear it again . Yes , at midnight as at noon , at morn as at evening , every day and all day long , Death is gathering his harvest -- and the iron voice tolls on .