English poem
Sonnet LXXII (THEE! lucid arbiter 'twixt day and…)
by Charlotte Smith (1749–1806)
THEE! lucid arbiter 'twixt day and night, The Seaman greets, as on the Ocean stream Reflected, thy precursive friendly beam Points out the long-sought haven to his sight.
Watching for thee, the lover's ardent eyes Turn to the eastern hills; and as above Thy brilliance trembles, hails the lights that rise To guide his footsteps to expecting love!
I mark thee too, as night's dark clouds retire, And thy bright radiance glances on the sea; But never more shall thy heraldic fire Speak of approaching morn with joy to me! Quench'd in the gloom of death that heavenly ray Once lent to light me on my thorny way!
More by Charlotte Smith
- Sonnet LXVII (SWIFT fleet the billowy clouds along…)
- Sonnet LXVIII (FALL, dews of Heaven, upon my…)
- Sonnet LXX (IS there a solitary wretch who…)
- Sonnet LXXI (THE chill waves whiten in the…)
- Sonnet LXXIII (THOU! whom Prosperity has always led…)
- Sonnet LXXIV ("SLEEP, that knits up the ravell'd…)
- Sonnet LXXIX (OF Folly weary, shrinking from the…)
- Sonnet LXXV (WHERE the wild woods and pathless…)