Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By HenryAbbey

831 Faith’s Vista

WHEN from the vaulted wonder of the sky

The curtain of the light is drawn aside,

And I behold the stars in all their wide

Significance and glorious mystery,

Assured that those more distant orbs are suns

Round which innumerable worlds revolve,—

My faith grows strong, my day-born doubts dissolve,

And death, that dread annulment which life shuns,

Or fain would shun, becomes to life the way,

The thoroughfare to greater worlds on high,

The bridge from star to star. Seek how we may,

There is no other road across the sky;

And, looking up, I hear star-voices say:

“You could not reach us if you did not die.”