Classic Poem

I.

" O love, look there! is that a smile?
Or thus can wild despair
The pain of deadly grief beguile
With phantoms of the air? "

II.

" Like light around the Babe Divine
In Holy pictures set,
I see a tender glory shine —
J ESUS our babe has met!

III.

The beam that on an infant's birth
Shone like a wondrous star,
Still leads the child-like of the earth,
To Him, in regions far.

IV.

It shines upon the martyr flowers,
The Virgin Host in white,
Around the Lamb, now leading ours
Amongst the fields of light.

V.

O'er purple hills, through valleys low,
They keep Him still in sight,
Where'er the Bright One moves they go,
With ever new delight.

VI.

Yes " fainter now," for farther on
He follows, farther goes
Into the land where shines no sun
That ever set or rose.

VII.

It fades — and on that pearly face
The shadow grows, as far
He passes through the shining space
Where is no sun nor star. "

VIII.

" O love, look not! — the smile is fled,
Yon dazzling troop and He
Into the light are farther led,
Into the darkness, we. "