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,
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    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,
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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,
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    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.
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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,
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    And to worldly troubles blind
He lights his taper up at even,
    Sparkles, flies, and is resigned. [Page 161]