| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917. |
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| 137. The Inverted Torch |
| | | By Edith M. Thomas |
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| THREADING a darksome passage all alone, | |
| The taper’s flame, by envious current blown. | |
| Crouched low, and eddied round, as in affright, | |
| So challenged by the vast and hostile night, | |
| Then down I held the taper;—swift and fain | 5 |
| Up climbed the lovely flower of light again! | |
| Thou Kindler of the spark of life divine, | |
| Be henceforth the Inverted Torch a sign | |
| That, though the flame beloved thou dost depress, | |
| Thou wilt not speed it into nothingness; | 10 |
| But out of nether gloom wilt reinspire, | |
| And homeward lift the keen empyreal fire! | |
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