Poems and Essays

by Joseph Howe


 

TO THE FIRE-FLY.


 

Little Insect, brightly gleaming
    Through the murky shades of night,
Most assiduously beaming
    All around thy transient light.

Still at eve, through air careering,
5
    Though the scene be e’er so dark,
Yet your little light appearing,
    Shines a gay resplendent spark.

Shine again, thou pretty meteor,
    Though the night be drear and damp,
10
Lovely, lucid, speck of Nature
    Light again thy little lamp.

Spread again thy airy pinion,
    Let thy ray once more appear,
Come, dame Fortune’s favor’d minion,
15
    Learn a moral lesson here. [Page 160]

Lull’d on luxury’s lap supinely,
    What avails your worldly pelf,
Though through life you glide divinely,
    Yet you live but for yourself.
20

View this little Fly, commencing
    Undisturb’d, his evening flight,
To proud man a ray dispensing—
    Gen’rous Fly—to guide him right.

With the little God has given,
25
    And to worldly troubles blind
He lights his taper up at even,
    Sparkles, flies, and is resigned. [Page 161]