The Light of Stars by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
After the moon sets, the speaker watches Mars and imagines its light as a hero's armor and shield, drawing renewed strength from it despite personal pain. The speaker then urges readers whose hopes are fading to remain resolute and calm, and to endure suffering with strength.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Inspirational Poetry · 330 words
First lines
The night is come, but not too soon; / And sinking silently, / All silently, the little moon / Drops down behind the sky.
There is no light in earth or heaven / But the cold light of stars; / And the first watch of night is given / To the red planet Mars.
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — Rhymed four-line stanzas follow the speaker's thoughts and renewed resolve while watching Mars.
- Inspirational Poetry — The closing stanzas directly urge readers to remain calm when hopes depart and to face suffering with strength.
Tags
night sky · Mars · resolve · suffering · perseverance
What this Textopian page supports
The Light of Stars is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Inspirational Poetry
- Length: 330 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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