The City Lights

Underneath the stars the houses are awake; Upward comes no sound my silent watch to break. Night has hid the street, with all its motley sights; Miles around, afar, shine out the city lights: Stars that softly glimmer in a lower sky, Dearer than, the glories unexplored on high; Home-stars, that, like eyes, are glistening through the dark, With a human tremor wavers every spark. Glittering lamps above and twinkling lamps below; The remote, strange splendor, the familiar glow: One Eye, looking downward from creation’s dome, Sees in both, his children’s window-lights of home. Who have dwellings there, in avenues of space? Whose clear torches kindle through the vague sky-place? Are they holding tapers, us, astray, to guide, spirit-pioneers, who lately left our side? Never drops an answer from those worlds unknown: Yet no ray is shining for itself alone. Hints of heaven gleam upward, through our earthly nights; Tremulous with pathos are the city lights:— Tremulous with pathos of a half-told tale: Through therein hope flickers, burning low and pale, It shall win completeness perfect as the sun: Broken rays shall mingle, earth and heaven be one.