---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - May, J. P.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 13
number: 5
published: 1910-03
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'May, J. P., "The Comet’s Coming," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 5 (March 1910): 391.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera135unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera135unse
start_page: 391
end_page: 391
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1910-03)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera135unse
  publication_year: 1910
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1910, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Comet’s Coming


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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