Poems (Kimball)/The Fairy Taper

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THE FAIRY TAPER.
ABOVE me all the stars of nightThick clustering make the darkness bright; And in the darkling grass below Shines out with swift, responsive glow A tiny, steadfast, lucid ray,Anon as swiftly dies away. Again it comes; again it goes; And still with equal lustre glows. Now I bethink me 't is the light Of some sweet fairy of the night; A taper-flame of emerald hue Put out by silver showers of dew!But oh the invisible hands that bear The fairy candlestick in air,—To see them strike the fairy light And lift the flame in mortal sight,To guide her hastening lover true The forest of the grasses through!
Fall faster yet an fall you must, Small dew that lays the fairy dust!Oft as you quench her lovely light This little lady of the night ​Will still renew the gem-like flame That hour by hour will burn the same; While lover fond and lady true Defy the darkness and the dew!
"Who told you?" (whispered in my ear.) A little Glow-worm told me, dear!
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