SIRIUS

Since Sirius crossed the Milky Way

Full sixty thousand years have gone,

Yet hour by hour, and day by day,

This tireless star speeds on and on.

Methinks he must be moved to mirth

By that droll tale of Genesis,

Which says creation had its birth

For such a puny world as this.

To hear how One who fashioned all

Those Solar Systems, tier on tiers,

Expressed in little Adam's fall

The purpose of a million spheres.

And, witness of the endless plan,

To splendid wrath he must be wrought

By pigmy creeds presumptuous man

Sends forth as God's primeval thought.

Perchance from half a hundred stars

He hears as many curious things;

From Venus, Jupiter and Mars,

And Saturn with the beauteous rings,

There may be students of the Cause

Who send their revelations out,

And formulate their codes of laws,

With heavens for faith and hells for doubt.

On planets old ere form or place

Was lent to earth, may dwell — who knows -

A God-like and perfected race

That hails great Sirius as he goes.

In zones that circle moon and sun,

‘ Twixt world and world, he may see souls

Whose span of earthly life is done,

Still journeying up to higher goals.

And on dead planets grey and cold

Grim spectral souls, that harboured hate

Life after life, he may behold

Descending to a darker fate.

And on his grand majestic course

He may have caught one glorious sight

Of that vast shining central Source

From which proceeds all Life, all Light.

Since Sirius crossed the Milky Way

Full sixty thousand years have gone,

No mortal man may bid him stay,

No mortal man may speed him on.

No mortal mind may comprehend

What is beyond, what was before;

To God be glory without end,

Let man be humble and adore.