Go," said the star to its light:
"Tell me the tale of your flight."

As the mandate rang
The heavens through,
Quick the ray sprang:
Unheard it flew,
Sped by the touch of an unseen spur.
It crumbled the dusk of the deep
That folds the worlds in sleep,
And shot through night with noiseless stir.

Then came the day;
And all that swift array
Of diamond-sparkles died.
And lo! the far star cried:
"My light has lost its way!"
Ages on ages passed:
The light returned, at last.

"What have you seen,
What have you heard--
O ray serene,
O flame-winged bird
I loosed on endless air?
Why do you look so faint and white?"--
Said the star to its light.

"O star," said the tremulous ray,
"Grief and struggle I found.