The vast and cold expanse of boundless space
Where worlds, revolving in a ceaseless race,
Are born in fire, and slowly grow to prime,
Then cool to death in aeon’ s endless time:
In space so vast could seeds of life survive
And reach another younger world alive,
If wafted, dustwise, from a world grown old,
Whilst lulled to deathless sleep by freezing cold?
Or,
Sunk in a meteor, hurling through space,
Flung from a broken star on its mad race;
Hurling through space ever heading for earth,
Rider momentous! hold fast to your berth,
Cling to your crevace in meteor’ s side,
Life of a planet depends on this ride!
Last of one world, to be first of another,
Germ most amazing, of all germs the mother,
Strengthen yourself, for your luminous steed
Generates heat from his furious speed,
Strengthen yourself to withstand the fierce jar,
When the swift meteor, rushing from far,
Dashes in frenzy, indenting the earth,
Shaking you free from your perilous berth.
Then,
Feeding on water and warmed by the sun,
Germ of all living, where life there was none,
Energy gaining, dividing in twain,
Wonders and wonders will come in their train.
Life on this planet is now well begun,
Ever evolving, its course it must run
Till at length man can commune with his mate,
Looking to God to explain his strange fate.