The day begins cold, solid, and grey, but the speaker feels an inner warmth that has nothing to do with the weather. She addresses someone she loves, saying her heart wakes up happy simply “for your sake.” The love she feels settles her: her heart is no longer restless or “tossed and wild,” but sings like a child and stays quiet as a flower in the early grey light. The mood is gentle and calm, not exuberant. It is the happiness of feeling safe and emotionally still because of another person. The repeated last lines, “So my heart will wake / Happy, for your sake,” make the feeling sound like a quiet ritual or vow, as if this love brings peace to every ordinary morning.
Dawn — Summary
So begins the day, Solid, chill, and grey, But my heart will wake Happy for your sake; Singing like a child, No more tossed and wild, Quiet as a flower In this first grey hour.
So my heart will wake Happy, for your sake.