Study on Colour: Far below the translucent ice... Op. 15

Far below the translucent ice,
Flow the streams that have given rise,
To all the blue and silver sides of life,
That under the solace of wan surface,
Find their golden cities of unshown grace.
Here these creations of alien visage,
In wide swarms crowd and combine,
Confederating in the cloud-blue brine,
That in these sad regions makes up for air,
To both breath and woefully consume.
Yet Behold! The light of far-away source,
Even here reaches to unite with fairer force;
And as light and fire meet in ancient forge,
They power the cities of thousand fissures,
Far below the gloom of thousand glaciers.
Yet beware, traveller in this remote land,
Wandering past the teeming promenades,
Suprised, you see the vivid colours fade,
And all unhindered some ghastly wight,
Strolls through the now desolate side-strait.