The fire of love was burning, yet so low
That in the dark we scarce could see its rays,
And in the light of perfect-placid days
Nothing but smouldering embers dull and slow.
Vainly, for love’s delight, we sought to throw
New pleasures on the pyre to make it blaze:
In life’s calm air and tranquil-prosperous ways
We missed the radiant heat of long ago.
Then in the night, a night of sad alarms,
Bitter with pain and black with fog of fears,
That drove us trembling to each other’s arms —
Across the gulf of darkness and salt tears,
Into life’s calm the wind of sorrow came,
And fanned the fire of love to clearest flame.
(Henry Van Dyke)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Life Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Sadness Poems, Fire Poems, Fear PoemsBased on Keywords: vainly, fog, missed, radiant, pleasures, alarms, embers, fanned, gulf, pyre, smouldering