William Ernest Henley

Echoes. 11. Thick Is the Darkness

        To W. R.

Thick is the darkness—
   Sunward, O, sunward!
Rough is the highway—
   Onward, still onward!

Dawn harbours surely
   East of the shadows.
Facing us somewhere
   Spread the sweet meadows.

Upward and forward!
   Time will restore us:
Light is above us,
   Rest is before us.