Henry Alford

Sonnet XLVII. "There is a bright space in yon rolling cloud"

There is a bright space in yon rolling cloud Betokening the presence of the moon;-- Into the pure sky she will travel soon, In clearest beauty, free from envious shroud. Even so to thee, my soul's sweet partner, bowed With pain severe, the light of hope was shown; And thou art now in aether of thine own, A clear blue space, with perfect calm endowed; And this young babe, a treasure newly found, Like some fair star attendant at thy side, Shall journey on, through ease and peril tried: To him, whose being in your own is bound, For blest example and high solace given,-- Heaven at life's end, and life itself a heaven.