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.