A Night of Stars and Poetry

A night of stars and poetry! when thought, Leaving the world and its realities, Starts like a rocket into distant skies, With noblest aspirations deeply fraught: Those globes of light—those islands in blue space— Float they unpeopled through their shoreless sea, Or, since the dawning of eternity, Has spirit found in them a resting place? Does the pulse answer to the young heart's lightness? Do patriots triumph in their country's cause? Does genius win the guerdon of applause? Does love delight to bask in beauty's brightness? Alas! high thought, that rocket-like went forth, Returns, like it, in darkness to the earth!