Shade and Shadow by Dr. J. Fare

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 19, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 32.

Shade and Shadow

By Dr. J. Fare

I stood beneath a shining light, And with effulgence crowned, My soul did bound With buoyancy and sweet delight, For all around was bright. Beyond — was night.

But mortal, we with earth remain; For since the long ago, When asp of wo Spewed in the cup its deadly bane, We've ever supped of pain, And worn its chain.

From 'neath the light — still in its ray My earth-bound feet did turn, And turning, yearn For twilight's realm across the way, That shady rim of day, Where shadows play.

When, lo! from feet as from a womb There came a child of shade — From nothing made — That soon upon the ground did loom, As if 'twere stone of gloom To mark a tomb.

And from the earthy breast of Rue A phantom nutriment, That strangely lent It power to grow, it quickly drew; And as we neared the blue, O, how it grew!

And I was chilled. So to the light I turned my ashen face, And found kind grace With arms outstretched — rays to invite This poor deluded wight From land of night.

And blanched with fear, I sped away; But Shadow, it remained, Like hound well trained, Close to my heels. But I was gay, For Love's inviting ray Showed me the way.

And hope within began to bloom, For it had strength regained; And Shadow waned, And waning, hastened to its doom, That earthy house of gloom, The phantom's tomb.