Sonnet LXXII

THEE! lucid arbiter 'twixt day and night,The Seaman greets, as on the Ocean streamReflected, thy precursive friendly beamPoints out the long-sought haven to his sight.

Watching for thee, the lover's ardent eyesTurn to the eastern hills; and as aboveThy brilliance trembles, hails the lights that riseTo guide his footsteps to expecting love!

I mark thee too, as night's dark clouds retire,And thy bright radiance glances on the sea;But never more shall thy heraldic fireSpeak of approaching morn with joy to me!Quench'd in the gloom of death that heavenly rayOnce lent to light me on my thorny way!