April 21st, 1860.
The virgin moon with one clear star
Poised lightly on its shining horn,
A vestal lamp, whose beauteous flame
Was for an evening's wonder born--
Thus Venus paused with kindling beams
O'er lovely Dian's crescent white;
A moment quivered, flashed anew,
Then slowly passed from eager sight.
O grandest star of matin hours!
O loveliest star of tranquil even!
What doom has quenched thy peerless ray,
And robbed the azure dome of heaven?
O pain of loss, how sharp thy blade!
How keen thy search, bereavèd eyes!
While swift as thought our glances range
The glittering spaces of the skies.
In vain for me red Saturn's rings
Or Jupiter's revolting moons;
Their light, like thine, can never charm
The silent evening's pensive glooms.
Love's faithful eye will miss thy gleam
As twilight steals o'er lake and shore,
And weep to think those joyous waves
Reflect thy beauties never more.
One twinkling gleam and, lo! the star
We mourned as lost, fair Dian, glides
Beside thee, loved companion still,
On thy calm orbit's tranquil tides.
Unshorn its ray, undimmed its light,
But hidden, not withdrawn from view,
Again the star of love and joy
Gleams softly from the vaulted blue.
O friend, whose genius like a star
Once o'er my life as fairly shone,
In vain I wait thy swift return
In death's long occultation gone!
Suns, systems, cycles, duly turn
On thy short axle, finite time,
And only man still grandly claims
Eternal spaces, God's sublime
Infinitude of place, beyond
The blue, and vasty firmament;
From whence, to time, none e'er return,
Though hearts may break in sharp lament.
