Classic Poem

Little Insect, brightly gleaming
Through the murky shades of night,
Most assiduously beaming
All around thy transient light.

Still at eve, through air careering,
Though the scene be e'er so dark,
Yet your little light appearing,
Shines a gay resplendent spark.

Shine again, thou pretty meteor,
Though the night be drear and damp,
Lovely, lucid, speck of Nature
Light again thy little lamp.

Spread again thy airy pinion,
Let thy ray once more appear,
Come, dame Fortune's favor'd minion,
Learn a moral lesson here.

Lull'd on luxury's lap supinely,
What avails your worldly pelf,
Though through life your glide divinely,
Yet you live but for yourself.

View this little Fly, commencing
Undisturb'd, his evening flight,
To proud man a ray dispensing—
Gen'rous Fly—to guide him right.

With the little God has given,
And to worldly troubles blind
He lights his taper up at even,
Sparkles, flies, and is resigned.

Little Insect, brightly gleaming
Through the murky shades of night,
Most assiduously beaming
All around thy transient light.

Still at eve, through air careering,
Though the scene be e'er so dark,
Yet your little light appearing,
Shines a gay resplendent spark.

Shine again, thou pretty meteor,
Though the night be drear and damp,
Lovely, lucid, speck of Nature
Light again thy little lamp.

Spread again thy airy pinion,
Let thy ray once more appear,
Come, dame Fortune's favor'd minion,
Learn a moral lesson here.

Lull'd on luxury's lap supinely,
What avails your worldly pelf,
Though through life your glide divinely,
Yet you live but for yourself.

View this little Fly, commencing
Undisturb'd, his evening flight,
To proud man a ray dispensing—
Gen'rous Fly—to guide him right.

With the little God has given,
And to worldly troubles blind
He lights his taper up at even,
Sparkles, flies, and is resigned.