MAN DEFYING THE DYING SUN.
Farewell, farewell, O dying Sun!
Thy glorious race is almost run.
But I acknowledge this to thee
That thou hast fought most valiantly.
Wast ever foremost in the fight,
No rest for thee by day, nor night.
I too have fought most manfully,
And stand erect, defying thee.
I’ve fought the fight, have gained the day,
I shall live on forever, aye.—
Farewell then Sun, for thou must die;
While I have gained eternity.
When thou art dead and cold, O Sun,
Thou’lt be a crownless king laid low.
No pity shall I have for thee,
O thou my conquered, fallen foe.
Thou seem’st to laugh exultantly—
Thou shalt be humbled, haughty Sun;
He laughs the best, who laughs the last,
For now thy race is nearly run.
I stand alone defying thee
One moment, then, I too shall die.
But I have gained the victory;
I nevermore to thee shall cry.
Thou standest in thy majesty,
Thou standest in thy glorious might.
With scorn thou viewest dying man
From out thy wondrous, wondrous height
Thou lookest down on me, O Sun,
And dost contempt upon me cast.
But thou art slowly dying, Sun,
Thy greatness is but of the past.
I stand alone upon the earth—
No living thing can I now see;
But I shall witness thy defeat;
A fallen king thou soon wilt be.
One moment I shall stand erect;
A sovereign of the earth, and space;
Then die as thou hast died, O Sun,
The last of all my dying race.
The last of all humanity—
I’ve struggled hard to win the race;
Have conquered too, for now I stand
Alone on earth, grim death to face.
The earth is mine, I’ve conquered thee—
One moment witness thy defeat,
Then falling to the earth, now king;
A dead, cold Sun, I proudly greet.
The earth is cold; (all life is gone,—)
And little now it holds for me.
I miss thy warmth, I miss thy light,
Although I stand exultantly.—
Thou never canst atone, O Sun,
For all the misery thou hast wrought—
’Tis evermore on earth, dark night;
Though I have life, ’tis dearly bought.
Farewell! Farewell! defeated Sun!
Thou now art dead; thy race is run.—