Samuel Francis Smith

1808-1895 / the United States

Shine On

Shine on, 'Lone Star!'* Thy radiance bright
Shall spread o'er all the eastern sky;
Morn breaks apace from gloom and night:
Shine on, and bless the pilgrim's eye.

Shine on, 'Lone Star!' I would not dim
The light that gleams with dubious ray;
The lonely star of Bethlehem
Led on a bright and glorious day.

Shine on, 'Lone Star!' in grief and tears,
And sad reverses oft baptized;
Shine on amid thy sister spheres;
Lone stars in heaven are not despised.

Shine on, 'Lone Star!' Who lifts his hand
To dash to earth so bright a gem,
A new 'lost pleiad' from the band
That sparkles in night's diadem?

Shine on, 'Lone Star!' The day draws near
When none shall shine more fair than thou:
Thou, born and nursed in doubt and fear,
Wilt glitter on Immanuel s brow.

Shine on, 'Lone Star!' till earth redeemed
In dust shall bid its idols fall;
And thousands, where thy radiance beamed,
Shall 'crown the Saviour Lord of all.'
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