Days of basking, perfect, golden light,
all the air aglow, warmed above,
below, by flaming canopies and
carpets richly strewn.
Earth’s goodness funneled, heaped
upon this season’s glory,
tinged, though ‘tis, with wistfulness,
a treasure all the more for this, when
light is shortened and night
comes swiftly in.
Sunset rays are met
with rising chill, while still,
earth lies to gaze upon her crown—
clear-sparkled sky,
a circlet set, a master dome,
the very world to awe.
Faint-echoing strains, as from a
starry shower or church bells of
steeple tower nestled
behind the hills, a song
from time’s foundation seems
to peal upon the frosted air.
Praised be the Lord
for life-bursting summer days
and autumn’s gloried splendor!
Praise Him, too, full equally for
time of winter rest,
for upward gazing through
darkest nights.
We wait, therein,
His surest coming
—certain as the dawn—
the world’s true Light.
Sr. Cecilia Francis, CFR