DEAR fading eyes! wherefrom the fading sight
Falls like the sunset of a falling day,
But leaves no hope that morning's footstep light
Will bring again what Time has taken away!
Dawn, when she mounts afresh on glory's height,
Gladdening anew the valleys of the world,
Must leave thy powers ever in mist enfurled
To wander restless through thy waking night.
Thus pondered I, when, lo! the vale of grief
Burst sudden into song, and all was well.
I watched the vision through a rain of tears
With him who saw therein certain belief: What saw I?
Neither verse nor song can tell
The blessed certainty, the all-seeing spheres.