THEE! lucid arbiter 'twixt day and night, <br />The seaman greets, as on the ocean stream <br />Reflected, thy precursive friendly beam <br />Points out the long-sought haven to his sight. <br />Watching for thee, the lover's ardent eyes <br />Turn to the eastern hills; and as above <br />Thy brilliance trembles, hails the lights that rise <br />To guide his footsteps to expecting love! <br />I mark thee too, as night's dark clouds retire, <br />And thy bright radiance glances on the sea; <br />But never more shall thy heraldic fire <br />Speak of approaching morn with joy to me! <br />Quench'd in the gloom of death that heavenly ray <br />Once lent to light me on my thorny way!<br /><br />Charlotte Smith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-lxxii-to-the-morning-star/
