THERE is something in the sunlight

Which I never saw before;

      There’s a note within the robin’s song

I did not hear of yore;

        There’s something—ah! I know not what!

 But something everywhere

    That makes the world this morning seem

Most marvelously fair!

I awakened very early

And I watched the sun arise,

And it seemed to me that heaven

Must be dawning in the skies;

For a glory and a gladness,

Passing words of mine to show,

Flashed from out the eastern portals

 On the waking world below.

All the water gleamed with gladness;

Every streamer in the sky

Seemed the arms of little children

Flung in joyousness on high;

All the birds on all the bushes

Joined their melody to pour—

Surely never was a morning

Ushered in like this before!

Is it fact or is it fancy?

Doth the secret in my heart

Unto everything it shines on

Spurious joyousness impart?

 Or hath the world grown gladder,

As it seems to me today?

Is it true or is it seeming?

Who shall tell? I cannot say.

Ah ! I care not! Doth it matter?

‘Tis enough for me to know

That the world to me is gladder

Than it was a year ago.

That on earth and sky and water

Lies a radiance, false or true,

That shall never fade or falter,

Never be less strange or new!

If my heart thus gilds creation

Well it may, for it is glad,

Past the power of shade or shining

Any more to make it sad.

Never yet on earth or heaven.

Never yet on land or sea,

Shone the light of that great gladness

Which my God hath given me.

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