O Solitary of the Austere Sky

O solitary of the austere sky,
Pale presence of the unextinguished star,
That from thy station where the spheres wheel by,
And quietudes of infinite patience are,
Watchest this wet, grey-visaged world emerge,--
Cold pinnacle on pinnacle, and deep
On deep of ancient wood and wandering surge,--
Out of the silence and the mists of sleep;

How small am I in thine august regard!
Invisible,--and yet I know my worth!
When comes the hour to break this ’prisoning shard,
And reunite with Him that breathed me forth,
Then shall this atom of the Eternal Soul
Encompass thee in its benign control!