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 THE GLOWWORM

THE mountains lost in clouds, the giant firs

T

Standing out 'gainst the never-ceasing lightning,

Shaken by thunderpeals, in threefold strength,

As all the valleys echoed through the night.

The mighty heads stormbent, the branches tossed

Into the sheets of water, sky and earth

In lurid light, a never-ceasing flame.

There in the grass, beneath a tiny leaf

A firefly put forth its wondrous ray,

As if no storm, no rain, no hail were nigh,

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A peaceful little flame, and yet so strong,

That it outshone the lightning. It would say:

I am the same as lightning! Storm thy life

And threat'ning thunder, but thy flame O minstrel,

Thy heart's own fire, is as strong, as true,

As elementary as Fate's wild raving,

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