Eimreiðin - 01.10.1940, Page 88

384
RADDIR
EIMHEIÐIN'
The Northern Lights.
Hath human eye seen aught so wondrous bright
As Saturn’s Seat in myriad hues of light?
A golden bow o’er land and sea is bent.
Who now with cards and wine can be content?
The earth, as fresh as a maid in her bower,
Enfolds, as she sleeps, every autumn flower.
In each grain of sand a sapphire shade is found
And silver streams their songs in ripples sound.
In flames of gold, of quivering fold,
The Northern Lights abound.
Froni the seventh heaven to Neptune’s shores,
The sun-gods are dancing to open doors',
Whilst waves of light, in a fiery flight,
Are rising and falling to left and right.
’Tis as if a hidden hand were at play
With jewels and gems in dazzling array.
On this realm of life all mortals now gaze,
From darkling abodes and dim lighted ways,
As snow-clad clifts, in shimmering shifts,
Their eyes to heaven raise.
How fleeting and frail seems our earthly life,
How false every hope, how petty our strife.
Let me be hated, envied and reviled,
To every soul I now feel reconciled.
For the sky this night is so bright and clear,
Each smiling star is so ready to cheer.
To heavenly good our thoughts draw nigh.
The spirit of God breathes through every sigh,
We feel our own might, we now claim our right
As sons of the Most High.
’Tis mighty indeed this heaven-born stream,
The light boats on which form a racing team.
The harbour they seek; as some disappear,
Others there are who a different course steer.
But none hath seen Him who to men gave sight,
Or found nor explained the source of this light.
In fervent prayer on our knees we fall,
In vain to the spirit above we call,
For barred is each gate and closed each strait
And silence reigns withal.