The Lamp in the West

Venus has lit her silver lamp Low in the purple West, Casting a soft and mellow light Upon the sea’s full breast; In one clear path—as if to guide Some pale, wayfaring guest. Far out, far out the restless bar Starts from a troubled sleep, Where, roaring through the narrow straits, The meeting waters leap; But still that shining pathway leads Across the lonely deep. When I sail out the narrow straits Where unknown dangers be, And cross the troubled, moaning bar To the mysterious sea, Dear God, wilt thou not set a lamp Low in the West for me?

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