THE CANDLE

Time like a cloud

Has risen from the East

And whelmed the sky over

Even to the wide-arched West,

Darkening the blue,

Embrowning the early gold,

Until no more the eternal Sun

Looks simply through.

In each man's eyes

The cloud is set,

With but the chill light

Of silver January skies.

On each man's heart

Time's firm shadow falls,

And the mind throws but a candle's beam

On the dark walls.

But on those walls

Man paints his dream

Rejoicing purely

In the faithful candle's beam:

Lives by its beauty,

Pictures his heart's delight,

And with that only beam outbraves

Time's gathering night.

O spiritual flame,

Calm, faithful, bright!

Time may whelm over

All but this candle's light:

Shadow but shadow is;

Dark though it lies

‘ Tis blazon'd with man's long-dreamed dreams,

Pierced by his eyes.