This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And Wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars.
At this still hour the self-collected soul
Turns inward, and beholds a stranger there
Of high descent, and more than mortal rank;
An embryo God; a spark of fire divine.
Bio: James Bolivar Manson was an artist and worked at the Tate gallery for 25 years, being its Director 1930 1938. In the Tate's own evaluation he was the "least successful" of their Directors.
