Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LIGHT AND SHADE, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: Light! Emblem of all good and joy Last Line: The lord our everlasting light. Subject(s): Eyes; Lamps; Light; Sun; Vision | ||||||||
LIGHT! emblem of all good and joy! Shade! emblem of all ill! And yet in this strange mingled life, We need the shadow still. A lamp with softly shaded light, To soothe and spare the tender sight, Will only throw A brighter glow Upon our books and work below. We could not bear unchanging day, However fair its light; Ere long the wearied eye would hail As boon untold the evening pale, The solace of the night. And who would prize our summer glow If winter gloom we did not know? Or rightly praise The glad spring rays, Who never saw our rainy days? How grateful in Arabian plain Of white and sparkling sand, The shadow of a mighty rock Across the weary land! And where the tropic glories rise, Responsive to the fiery skies, We could not dare To meet the glare, Or blindness were our bitter share. Where is the soul so meek and pure, Who through his earthly days Life's fullest sunshine could endure In clear and cloudless blaze? The sympathetic eye would dim, And others pine unmarked by him, Were no chill shade Around him laid, And light of joy could never fade. He, who the light-commanding word Erst spake, and formed the eye, Knows what that wondrous eye can bear, And tempers with providing care, By cloud and night, all hurtful glare, By shadows ever nigh. So in all wise and loving ways He blends the shadows of our days, To win our sight From scenes of night, To seek the "True and Only Light." We need some shadow o'er our bliss Lest we forget the Giver; So often in our deepest joy There comes a solemn quiver; We could not tell from whence it came, The subtle cause we cannot name; Its twilight fall May well recall Calm thought of Him who gave us all. There are who all undazzled tread Awhile the sunniest plain; But they have sought the blessed shade By one great Rock of Ages made, A sure, safe rest to gain. Unshaded light of earth soon blinds To light of heaven sincerest minds; O envy not A cloudless lot! We ask indeed we know not what. So is it here, so is it now! Not always will it be! There is a land that needs no shade, A morn will rise which cannot fade, And we, like flame-robed angels made, That glory soon may see. No cloud upon its radiant joy, No shadow o'er its bright employ, No sleep, no night, But perfect sight, The Lord our everlasting Light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MERCY SEAT by NORMAN DUBIE TOO BRIGHT TO SEE by LINDA GREGG NORMAL LIGHT by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER LANDSCAPES (FOR CLEMENT R. WOOD) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE VISION TEST by MONA VAN DUYN FREED FROM ANOTHER CONTEXT by ELEANOR WILNER CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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