Night

Night falls on the lone
Sahara, and spark by spark
Arabs I have not known
Light fires in the dark.

Of the specks of ash in the smoke,

Which atom knows
From what fire it awoke,
Or whither it goes?

In the wilds of Space, in the dark,

Spiral nebulae
Twirl spark upon spark,
Whereof one are we.

Who can say for what task

They arose, or whither they slip?
And all the Spirits I ask
Stand, finger on lip.