The Solace Of Eternity

THE SOLACE OF ETERNITY

        To see the sadness in the sun,
The solace of eternity;
To know, a singular distress
        Is unimportant, as the day
Rises with comfortable beams,
Impressing continuity,
Enough to pause distress, until
Eyes blinded for a moment, ease
The mind, reflecting on the cause
Of sorrow; being so upset,
Makes reason happily reject
Such lamentation; now to say
How insignificant it is,
One person’s woe compared to such
A ball of fire. Remember this,
The world, the universe, has more
Expansive destiny than one
Poor man or woman can conceive:
Eternal vastness is supreme;
Nor any thought or mood we have
Cannot last longer, and expires.
Then, what we think should lesser be,
Than our sole function, justifies
Self-knowledge and capacity:
The solemn duty must be kept,
To register a greater thing
Than us, though unintelligent,
Incapable of thought; this star
Shines diligently, every day,
Without complaint, without delay.