On Sunlight
I lift my head, and see its rays
A sphere of yellow might –
A glowing orb of light and life,
Obliterating night.
And in my soul, I choose light’s path
When two roads lie ahead –
When one, to a gray living death,
It’s to Life’s that I’m led.
For that gray death is e’er a threat,
Of life’s light growing faint –
And then to no more walk with pride,
With soul of black’ning taint.
How then to keep from this dark road?
But choose the path of Right –
The gleaming rays of glowing good,
A soul forged in pure light.
My life is won with every choice
To face fact, not to flee –
The choice to open both my eyes,
And always seek to see.
And when I choose to make that choice,
And, as a man, to be –
It’s loyalty, to all that’s good
It’s loyalty to me.
The death I face is not of soul,
The living death some know –
The only death I can e’er face
Is blood’s bemoaned last flow.
And when it comes, what is that death?
It will not know my cry –
What can I fear, when I will know
What life was, should I die.
For while I choose to live, and think
What care I of life’s term?
No enemy, can tear my soul
My grasp on light is firm.
Yes, it is true my days may end,
And I, no longer live –
But all the days I’ll have till then,
Are all that joy can give.
The star-bright sun will ne’er fear night
When it fades with light’s gaze –
There’s nought to fear in lack of light
When one knows Life’s bright rays.
That shining sphere will daily set
And I’ll not see its light –
But in my soul, I’ll know bright day
Even in darkest night.
* * *
Read my book of poems on Kindle; it’s included with Kindle Unlimited:
The Uplifted Gaze
The Poetry of John Rearden