In her calm, tender, beauty arising
She smiled as she journeyed on high;
Till the shadows fled far o'er the pineland,
Till ocean smiled back to the sky.
And our souls, in those genial rays basking,
Which glorified river and shore,
Soared high from the loved of the life that is,
To the loved of the life evermore.
But lo! o'er the brightness, and beauty and grace
Creeps slowly a dismal, black screen;
Now veiled from our eyes is the centre of light,
Earth's shadows have fallen between.
A moment obscure, then a clear shining rim,
As gleam of the covenant bow;
The veil is withdrawn from fair Luna's bright face,
And the heavens are again in a glow.
Thus basketh the soul in that holier light
Which beameth from Centre Divine;
Thus veiled is the radiance uplifting the life
When we kneel at a worldly shrine.
Yet steadfast and clear is that earth-clouded Light
The penitent, looking on high,
Will view the dark curtain to density glide,
And mercy re-lighten the sky.