A WONDERFUL glory of color, A splendor of shifting light— Orange and scarlet and purple— Flamed in the sky to-night. Over the rolling river, And over the busy town, Soft as a benediction The rich rays floated down. They turned the sails of the fishers Into opal, rose, and gold; The tall and smoky chimneys Were like castle turrets bold. Nothing of plain or common, But took a halo strange, In the light of the lovely sunset, With its fairy spell of change. The day had been long and gloomy, Weary with mist and rain, A day for the heart to brood on Sorrow and loss and pain; But there came, with the light of evening, A wind that swept away All the shadow and darkness Out of the winter day. Is thy life, O pilgrim, dreary, Veiled from the cheery light? Perhaps for thee is the promise Of joy with the waning light. Fairer than noonday splendor, Richer than beams of stars, The lustrous glory of sunset May burn through golden bars. For ever the sun is shining; If only thy soul can wait, It will find the light and beauty, Though they seem to tarry late. The soundless, sun-bright portal Will suddenly swing apart, And the grace of the life immortal Will guerdon thy trusting heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEAR ELIZABETH: (FOR ELIZABETH DIFIORE) by KAREN SWENSON THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE GENERAL PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER SONGS ON THE VOICES OF BIRDS; SEA-MEWS IN WINTER TIME by JEAN INGELOW OLD POETS by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER |