At dawn of day the sun’s first beam
Dispels the mist that hides the stream,
And scatters from the hill and wood
The clouds that there did sit and brood,
Formless and grey.
And when the night from earth is driven,
And clouds and mist have fled from heaven,
The waking birds take eager flight
Up through the golden rain of light,
With happy song.
Into my life, that knew no day,
A maiden winged a kindly ray,
And, flying wearily and slow,
Far fled the sombre bird of woe
I harbored long.
My heart no longer pined in night,
The mists that hid hope’s stream took flight,
Life’s hills a sunnier aspect took,
And I found many a pleasant nook
Within life’s grove.
And now my thoughts, like birds, arise,
Singing, towards the golden skies,
Afar from earthly doubt and strife,
Through the pure radiance of her life,
On wings of love.
MY STAR.
There is a star in the pure ether high,
My other home it is,
Whereto, when sorrow threatens me, I fly,
And in my flight towards the vaulted sky
The hated sorrows roll
Down from my fleet-winged soul,
As from the sea gull’s circling form the spray
Drops to the storm-vext bay
Its pinions erst did kiss.
Well said the Seer, that overstudy brought
A weariness of the flesh;
And oft my brain, worn with its overthought,
Watches the night steal past, while sleep comes not.
Then doth my star arise
Slowly before my eyes,
Steady, serene and cold, yet heavenly bright,
And, while my grief takes flight,
Binds all my thoughts in leash.
No longer fear and discontent combine
To make my future drear,
For I arise and from that star of mine
Look down and see our small earth dimly shine;
And all life’s joy and pain
Their proper worth obtain,
And I to smile at all past fears begin,
For earth’s discordant din
Is stilled, and God I hear.