A short poem for those in a rush; but maybe looking for a light.
The Lantern
By John Herlihy
Behold, in the darkness, I see a lantern,
Whose lamp sends forth a quivering light,
Shooting splintery spears into the seamless night,
Lifting the veil of darkness to give the night sight.
Why should mystery’s lamp shine thus in a tower,
To illuminate the world during the midnight hour?
The answer lies somewhere between Heaven and Earth,
Along the roadway of life that begins with our birth.
The day veils the mysterious light in the shadow of the moon;
Its flame lies eternally sequestered within an ancient rune.
The light may seem as nothing but the light of a firefly;
But it awakens the darkness where no sun shines in the sky.
I love imagery of Light...and your poem presents this theme
Beautifully...
As humans in this Earth, we are all searching for 'the light'...in one way or another...
Best wishes,
Diana...
After reading your intro (after reading the poem) for some reason all I could think about was some guy with a nicotine fit asking for a light from a stranger in the dark. So many times I've seen that scene in a movie. "Have you got a light?"
On the other hand, you could be just asking someone to, "see the light."
Having grown up in a village on Lake Erie, the warm glow from the light house would break the dark.................you so took me back to a pleasant memory. Thank you!
A beautiful poem inspiring one to look for the light of optimism even in the darkest places because each of us carries our own lantern to guide the way.
Share
Print
Save
Follow
thought provoking read
Beautifully...
As humans in this Earth, we are all searching for 'the light'...in one way or another...
Best wishes,
Diana...
On the other hand, you could be just asking someone to, "see the light."
Ron
Love ya!
Jane