Hopeless
the world's immensity!
George Lathrop - Dreams and Days
Then came the day;
And all that swift array
Of diamond-sparkles died.
And lo! the far star cried:
"My light has lost its way! "
Ages on ages passed:
The light returned, at last.
"What have you seen,
What have you heard--
O ray serene,
O flame-winged bird
I loosed on endless air?
Why do you look so faint and white? "--
Said the star to its light.
"O star," said the tremulous ray,
"Grief and struggle I found.
Horror impeded my way.
Many a star and sun
I passed and touched, on my round.
Many a life undone
I lit with a tender gleam:
I shone in the lover's eyes,
And soothed the maiden's dream.
But alas for the stifling mist of lies!
Alas, for the wrath of the battle-field
Where my glance was mixed with blood!
And woe for the hearts by hate congealed,
And the crime that rolls like a flood!
Too vast is the world for me;
Too vast for the sparkling dew
Of a force like yours to renew.
Hopeless the world's immensity!
The suns go on without end:
The universe holds no friend:
And so I come back to you. "
"Go," said the star to its light:
"You have not told me aright.
This you have taught: I am one
In a million of million others--
Stars, or planets, or men;--
And all of these are my brothers.
Carry that message, and then
My guerdon of praise you have won!
Say that I serve in my place:
Say I will hide my own face
Ere the sorrows of others I shun.
So, then, my trust you'll requite.
Go! "--said the star to its light.
"THE SUNSHINE OF THINE EYES"
The sunshine of thine eyes,
(O still, celestial beam! )
Whatever it touches it fills
With the life of its lambent gleam.
The sunshine of thine eyes,
O let it fall on me!
Though I be but a mote of the air,
I could turn to gold for thee!
JESSAMINE
Here stands the great tree still, with broad bent head;
Its wide arms grown aweary, yet outspread
With their old blessing. But wan memory weaves
Strange garlands, now, amongst the darkening leaves.
_And the moon hangs low in the elm_.
