The Comet’s Coming

The Comet's Coming. (For the Improvement Era.)

A wandering visitant, an unknown world, Across the solar scheme by fVce is hurled! A comet, lo, from depths of space is sent, Along a path where none before have whirled, On errand for the gods, perhaps, is bent!

Oh, awe-inspiring spectre from the deep! What is thy mission? Why the secret keep? Mysterious brilliant, trailing thy long light, Dost thou new progress bring for man to reap? Or is thy drama cast in stellar night?

Hast thou a message for the souls on earth? Or is there scheduled some momentous birth, That shall disturb the quietude of man? Wilt thou increase the moaning, or the mirth, Or change the general workings of the plan?

History's page is red, phantom sphere, With mystic markings of thy advent here: For Sol's domain, this planetary flock, Art thou a pendulum, a life-time year? An hour-striker on yon mighty clock?

But mandate law forever rules the scheme, Thee, wondrous comet, and the stars that gleam: All basic units in composite clay, And these realities, — the mental dream, Are governed by God's own imperial sway. J. P. May