'Tis such a long way to the star
Rising above our shore
It took its light to come so far
Thousands of years and more.

It may have long died on its way
Into the distant blue
And only now appears its ray
To shine for us as true.

We see its icon slowly rise
And climb the canopy;
It lived when still unknown to eyes,
We see what ceased to be.

And so it is when yearning love
Dies into depth of night:
Extinct its flame, still glows above
And haunts us with its light.

Onto the star that now appears
So far indeed in transit
Its light would take a thousand years
To reach our vision's orbit.

And, haply, on its azure way
Through endless space eternal
Yon sphere hath died, or e'er its way
Had reached our eye's discernal.

Of perished stars the visions bright
In heaven still soar ascendant
They were, ere yet we saw the light
Now dead, it shines resplendant.

And so it is when love's desire
In depth of night has perished
The quenche'd love still shines its fire
Still follows that is cherished.