Poem by Charlotte Turner Smith

Sonnet 72. To the Morning Star

THEE! lucid arbiter 'twixt day and night,
The seaman greets, as on the ocean stream
Reflected, thy precursive friendly beam
Points out the long-sought haven to his sight.
Watching for thee, the lover's ardent eyes
Turn to the eastern hills; and as above
Thy brilliance trembles, hails the lights that rise
To guide his footsteps to expecting love!
I mark thee too, as night's dark clouds retire,
And thy bright radiance glances on the sea;
But never more shall thy heraldic fire
Speak of approaching morn with joy to me!
Quench'd in the gloom of death that heavenly ray
Once lent to light me on my thorny way!

1. Sonnet Written at Penshurst in Autumn, 1788
2. Sonnet Written in the Churchyard at Middleton in Sussex
3. Ode to the Poppy
4. Occasional Address
5. Sonnet 10. To Mrs. G***

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