Classic Poem

I.

Ayer of her self is dark, and hath no light
But what Heaven lends her, and when angry skies
Call in their debt, she sinks in dungeon night.
Nay while she borrowes light, oft foggs arise,
Or storms, and filch by stealth, or rob by might
Her lone: her day in youth, or childhood dies.
But while the present Suns with conquering ray
Dispel the shades, and their strong beams display,
She sparkles all with light, and broider'd gold-array.

II.

Such now is Man: inform, void, empty, dark,
A Chaos, dungeon, grave, a starless night:
Rake all his ashes up, ther's not a spark
To tine quencht life, or kindle buried light:
And what he steals from others, (empty shark!)
Hell with his mists depraves: so robbs him quite.
But when his Life, and Light shines in his eyes,
In him he lives as he, and never dies;
Glittring in light divine, he heaven, stars, Sun out-vies.

III.

For as in earthly sight the bodies eye
(To the object bent) is like the object form'd;
So when the soul turn'd to the Deitie
Receives his likeness, it is soon transform'd
To what it sees: death, hell, and darkness fly,
And all the spirit to Light, and Life conform'd.
Soul of my soul! draw my souls eyes to thee;
Set them upon thy face; make me to be
By seeing Life, and Light, the Light, and Life I see.