Anonymous

AS some lone wanderer, in a darksome vale

Where towering mountains all in gloom enclose,

Stands through the night, and sees the chill stars pale,

In outer darkness, all their mellow glows;

At once beholds a flood of light that flows

Through some high portal in the mountain’s side,

Bathing in brightness all the valley wide,

And through that gate celestial, far unfold

The vista, radiant in molten gold,

The trees and flowers, gay-decked in pearly dews,

And crystal streams through grassy meadows rolled,

And Nature, glorious in her myriad hues:

So, in life’s vale, I lift mine eyes to thee,

Whose love brought light when all was gloom to me!