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THE COMING OF SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the sky darkened on the first great sin
Last Line: Song shall lift you to the sky.
Alternate Author Name(s): Brankovichera, Vidosava


WHEN the sky darkened on the first great sin,
And gates that shut man out shut Hope within,
Like to the falcon when his wing is broke,
The bitter cry of mortals then awoke:
"Too heavy is our burden," groaned the two.
"Shall woes forever on our track pursue,
And nest within these empty hearts? Or, worse,
Shall we be withered by the cruel curse?
Already less than human, shall we fall
By slow succession to some animal?"

Then, filled with pity at the desperate cry,
Came from His throne of thunder the Most High:
"That you should suffer" (spake the Voice) "is just:
'T is you have chosen for a feast a crust.
But not so unrelenting I -- the least
Of all your kind shall be above the beast.
That erring mortals be not lost in fear,
Come from My shining courts, O daughter dear!
Thou dost to heaven, shalt to earth belong.
She came; she stayed: it was the Muse of Song.

Again the day was radiant with light,
And something more than stars illumed the night.
Hope, beckoning, to the desert took its flight.

Where is Pain and dire Distress,
Song shall soothe like soft caress;
Though the stoutest courage fails,
Song's an anchor in all gales;
When all others fail to reach,
Song shall be the thrilling speech;
Love and friends and comfort fled,
Song shall linger by your bed;
And when Doubt shall question, Why?
Song shall lift you to the sky.





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