"Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages. Fear no more the lightning flash, Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone; Fear not slander, censure rash; Thou hast finished joy and moan." † ~ sweet is the light (for carolyn) sweet is the light sweet the warmth of day a blessing to each eye that lets the sunlight stay if perchance you get to live through many years on earth remember also darkness and come to know its worth each river joins at last to sea each fire dims to ember's glow and every hand that reaches out must eventually let go ~ rejoice in every heartbeat cast aside all doubt and shame walk the road your heart desires for each fire fades the same welcome hours as they gleam till they pass beyond your sight hold them true in memory in the fullness of the light ~ be true to all you love through the full span of your days but beware of careless joys when desire sometimes strays sorrow from your spirit cast do not fleeting treasure trust life to silence will yet fade and dust return to dust ~ call to mind before the winter 'fore the solemn evenings come sun and moon both equal dim both are naught in final sum keepers of all houses tremble and the strong among them kneel when the windows come to darkness when the bells begin to peel for these doors shall close at twilight when desire no more calls when the almond tree turns silver and the body breaks and falls ~ the mortal coil grows heavy the silver cord unwinds the golden bowl gets broken by relentless pull of time earth to earth again returns as the wind across a pond takes the name we carried here spreads it outward and beyond ~ vanity of vanities : the preacher told the wise to tread where new life may yet begin even as the old departs and the living join the dead a passage through this landscape shall not hold to what may fail the wind will calm the years depart yet we constant praise the sail vanity of vanities : evening sky may yet grow bright in the call of voices true in the soul's ascendant flight if the Spirit be made new how sweet is the light how sweet is this new light! rjh 15may2026 ~ namasté ~ ~ † William Shakespeare, "Cymbeline" [IV:ii:331-334, 343-346; circa 1610] adapted from Ecclesiastes, 11:7-12:14 [New Cambridge Paragraph Bible with Apocrypha, KJ590:TA Cambridge University Press, 2011] illustration : Philippe de Champaigne, "Saint Augustine" [circa 1650]
