Poems (Tree)/Lamp-posts
LAMPLIGHT AND STARLIGHT
LAMP-POSTS
THE eternal flame of laughter and desireBreaks the long darkness with a little glance,Till all the gloom is radiant in a danceOf yellow hopefulness, reflecting fireThat dreams from Heaven's lamps as we aspireSadly toward their jubilance—RomanceOf faery glitter in the streets of chance—Those beacon-trees that blossom from the mireWithin the fog of our despairing gloom;In the glum alleys, down the haunted nightThrough tunnelling of subterranean doom,Among the grovelling shadows, kingly bright,They bear their coronets of golden bloomTo front our anguish with their brave delight.
1917