Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STARS AND THE SOUL (TO CHARLES A. YOUNG, ASTRONOMER), by HENRY VAN DYKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STARS AND THE SOUL (TO CHARLES A. YOUNG, ASTRONOMER), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Two things,' the wise man said, 'fill me with awe
Last Line: And inward light that helps us all to live.
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Astronomy & Astronomers; Knowledge; Science; Young, Charles Augustus (1834-1908); Scientists


"Two things," the wise man said, "fill me with awe:
The starry heavens and the moral law."
Nay, add another wonder to thy roll, --
The living marvel of the human soul!

Born in the dust and cradled in the dark,
It feels the fire of an immortal spark,
And learns to read, with patient, searching eyes,
The splendid secret of the unconscious skies.

For God thought Light before He spoke the word;
The darkness understood not, though it heard:
But man looks up to where the planets swim,
And thinks God's thoughts of glory after Him.

What knows the star that guides the sailor's way,
Or lights the lover's bower with liquid ray,
Of toil and passion, danger and distress,
Brave hope, true love, and utter faithfulness?

But human hearts that suffer good and ill,
And hold to virtue with a loyal will,
Adorn the law that rules our mortal strife
With star-surpassing victories of life.

So take our thanks, dear reader of the skies,
Devout astronomer, most humbly wise,
For lessons brighter than the stars can give,
And inward light that helps us all to live.





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