Lantern In A Cold Winter's Night Poem by T.A. Rosenbaum

The sun was setting deep and fast
With it cold air blowing
A chill that sank straight to bone
Winter nights are growing

The sun was setting and deep shadows cast
Despair is hard to fight
Walking in the night alone
With no hint or hope of light

Ever into darkened distance vast
Through woods and mountains, field and glen
No gain or goal or promise shown
Nor ev'n the cry of a winter wren

Lost in the tangles of an ancient weald
Was this tribulation ne'r to end?
Do dreams and wishes deaden and dry?
As hands held by a winters wind?

My endurance and strength were nearly spent
My will beginning to bend
But wait! What is this I see through bleary eye!
Surely an angel god did send

A spot of light in a distant field
My resignation renewed
I nearly began to cry
While running, the light I pursued

River, tree, rock and stone endeavored to trip me!
Nearly I stumbled
But these obstacles I denied
As blindly after the light I tumbled
From me it could not hide
No more in darkness could I abide
No more in frozen hell reside

A lantern on a cold winter's night
Held by a hand as cold as mine
That had longer still the night denied
But somehow still did brightly shine

She took my hand and with a smile bright
Led me through a twist of pine
Somehow I feared my senses lied
But if they were false there was no sign

I soon knew that on my senses nature played no slight
When she led me to a place I cannot define
For in no way could its glory be denied
When she said to me; 'My heart is thine.'