B e h i ra t r h tn fl u N i t :
!
My
pri de it is m y !oy it is
My m a n h ood s su r e st t e st
love y ou m c h t o love y ou
To ove y ou las t a n d be st
,
,
’
To
Com
u
l
e
,
m or e
.
day
an y
My
,
s
oul
,
is
c om e
an y
p la c e ,
sa t isfie d
T o fin d in love o f wh a t y ou a r e ,
I t s c on st a n t !oy a n d pr i d e
.
T h er e is
! or t h e
no
!
oy
N
o
!
or
th e
lo
N
o
loss
so
B
ut
th e
th
pr ic e I w o
ll
th a t fi s
t as k so h a r
d
ve o f
t
m
I wo
n ot
pa y
y h e a r t t o da y
-
uld
n ot
no
o
f
gr ie f
y ou
so
ll
wi
.
do
w h a t I fin d i n you
gr e a t ,
ou g h
uld
.
sa d ,
m a ke
g la
d
.
A
ut
h or
’
s
t
N
ot e
t
o
Tou c h h as b rou gh t h e a u h o r t o
c on sc i u sn ess
h a t t h e re is bu t on e li f e in t h e m i ds o f wh ic h so
e xist as
T h e in fin i e
b!ec ivi y w h ic h
p e r f e c t c e n e rs o f a c i o n
c al
l t h e u n ive r se is t h e et e r n a l p la ym a e a n d b som f rie n d of
Th e
t h e in fi n i e su b!e c ivi y wh i c h we c a l
l th e
ru h is wh a
o f t h is
t h e a u h o r c a ll
s Th e ! it a l
!
E S
t
Th e
t
t
t t
t
t t
t
.
t
t o
t
t t
o
q
t
.
.
.
Oln n t r u t n
3
Q
MY SY M P H O N Y
A T E ! E NTID E
A Q UIE T HE ART
D U TY
T o T H E D E AR E ART H
T H E ! ISION
T H E SO N G O ! MY HE A RT
T H E GREA T N
E ss
or
L
P A GE
O
!E
T H E D A WN
ONT N TM NT
C
T
E
E
OG TH
E
T HE
E
R
POE 1
A
1
n
-
A SS UR
u
’
s
SECRET
N CE
AM
O
ITH
m
fi
fi
fi
HER IS M
m
!A
m
UL ! AILURE
T H E B E A UTY O ! T H E WORL D
A N E ! E NIN G P RA YE R
TH I S TH I S I s GO D
A D A Y AT A TI M E
!
,
O
N E N E ss
v
x
fi
fi
fi
C on t e n t s
HOU
P A GE
C H RI ST
T H E I N E ! P RE SSIB LE
I N T H E SI LE N CE
T H E CO S M IC SO UL
WH Y SH OULD I P RAY
WH O I s T H E MA N I L O! E
CREDO
E ! P ECT A N CY
T
L I! IN G
01 h r fl i t a l mo u t h
fl u fi nm nh n n s
!
NO W the power within
To
,
meet th e w orl d in l ove
T O Cheri sh for m ankind a boundl ess h op e
To hold di vine rel ati on ship with a ll tha t is
To ha ve th e mind a p e rfec t ins trume n t
To make w ise us e o f eve ry ci rcum s ta nce
And to be a ll I am in all I do :
Such is the pe rf ect life o f man
,
,
,
,
,
.
I!
A t E h e n t i br
with !oy my eyes ha v e feasted
On t h e beauty o f th e day
! nowing we ll such s u n l it com for t
Cannot s tay
NG
,
.
N ow
I
tu rn to feast as deeply
On the beauty of the nigh t
Eq ua l beauty that th e darkn e ss
B ring s to l igh t
,
.
N ot a l one the bright sun l oves me,
N ot alone the day i s dear !
F ull as frien dly come the shadow s
Cr eeping near
.
80 th is dream we call ou r l i fe tim e,
Full of b eauty as it seem s
P ass eth into oth er beau ti e s
Othe r d ream s
,
.
1 2
A Q ui e t
N
fi
:
r st
I N beyond the present day
By some remote and untr ied way
We urge our que st
After the be st
!A
.
Lo okin g afar in hope t o find
What we perchance have le ft behind
In amp l e store
At our o w n door
.
T he be st is n ea r alrea dy ours
If w e would w isely use the power s
Of mind an d heart
And do ou r pa rt
,
,
.
Complete and fair the e art h w i ll be
For him whose inner maj es ty
Crown s every sight
With its own light
.
In an y place w e find the thing
T hat in our h e arts the power we bring
T O see an d use
Al l e l s e we l ose
,
.
1
3
B it t y
is but the power to do
Who feels the n ee d and con scious is Of power
Must rise t o act
With not on e thought but that occasion lea d s
the way
And I am stron g
U TY
.
,
.
There is no skill that does not bind to use
I mu st be all I am in all I do !
So flowers the plant
So stars in heaven are bright
50 sea sons circle on
50 l ife a sc ends
The power within must full expression gain
SuCh is the need supreme the la w o f life
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
Each mu st be free to live in truth unto hi m self !
N O fea r t o check
No gain to lure h i m on
H i s mind unbough t
Each act his ve ry own without reserve
And so and to the end w ill l ife advance
,
,
,
,
.
,
1
4
Gin t h e B e a r E a r t h
it be mine to live close unto thee
With open mind in ten der sympathy
T o feel all that I am with thee akin
All outw ard life on e w ith the life within
AY
,
,
May it be mine to love al l things that live
And cherish wisel y what return they give
I w ou ld n ot hold the meanest in disdain
Nor think that any spen ds i tself in va in
,
.
,
.
Am i d the w orl d o f forms that cannot stay
It w e re en ough if by each common way
I cou l d d i scern with ever d e e p n in g sight
Abound in g good and wisdom infin ite
,
,
’
.
N0
mor e I ask th an n e ver to pass by
The good o f things that cl ose about me l i e !
N ev e r w ith eyes fixed on some myst ic s tar
T o m i ss th e gl o ry o f the th ings that are
,
,
.
1
5
.
61h r fi tstn n
om mon thing
D o th o u di sdain
N or ca ll tho u aught unclean
N o r tr eat as v ain
SI M P L E
,
c
,
.
Each l i fe begins and ends
Whate er i t be
In the same bo undl ess so u rce
T ha t d we ll s in the e
,
’
,
.
aught ev er hopeless is
S ince al l i s on e
From tiny wa te r mote
To dis tan t s un
N
,
,
-
.
Hol y and wond er ful
Ea ch ea r thly cl od
I f th o u the vi si on s ee st
Al l thin gs in
,
,
:
6
,
I would
in g h o w sorrow q u icken s love
Ho w sympathy u nites us
How the we ight of care neath which we move
With added stren gt h requites u s
S
,
,
’
.
I would sing Of dreams the sou l s ideals
And visions that come thronging
Of the ec stasy th e spirit feels
O f deep and holy lon ging
’
,
,
,
,
.
I would sing o f d e ath with ch eer ful hea rt
And o f things n ot under s tood
! o r I know they are O f l i fe a part
And can only le ad to good !
,
I
8
U h e G r e a t n e ss
of
fi n it e
my youth ful days I fancied
I saw p lain l y tru th and right
D rea m ed to me l ife s w ondrous m ean ing
S tood revealed in clearest l ight !
Now I know I see but dim l y
H a l f the glory of the trut h !
P u t aside are ch il di sh fancies
! an i shed far the dreams Of youth
,
’
,
,
,
.
beyond my bo l dest vision
Signs of what shal l be I trace
Wh en no more by w eakness h indered
I sha ll see as face to face
I have gained a higher w i sdom
T i m e has brought a faith profound
Steadfast no w my hop e abideth
Since by love my life is crowned
N ow
,
.
,
,
,
.
What avai l the w ords of angels
Wh at av ai l the tongu es Of m en
What the gift o f prophesyin g
What our learning s farthest ken
Wh at the fai th that moveth mountains
Wh at c a n charity secu re
What tho we may die as ma rtyrs
Without love our souls are p oor
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
.
39
,
Lo ve endureth hopeth a ll things
Love seeks not its own t o ga in
Turns wit h all th e more com passion
U nto those who gi ve us pa in
Mid th e doubts that mock our knowledge
M i d the clamor of our cree ds
There abides our surest sa fety
In the l ove Of k indl y dee ds
,
,
,
.
’
’
,
.
,
l
ithe B a lm :
we have lingered l on g enough in sleep
And t hrough the chambers o f this Shut in l ife
The great awakening light sets al l astir
I wonder wil l n o t D eath reveal its elf
A fr iendlier thing than thus to Sleep an d dream !
HE N
-
,
Wh en s l eep i s gone wil l not our dreams remain !
Wil l we not marve l how so lon g with fear
We pulled the curta in Close to keep away the dawn
And did our best not to be roused so soon !
,
I sometim e s think a tender mot her lea ves u s now to sl e ep
Wh o then wil l wake u s saying
Ti s day my child
'
,
,
2!
!
,
.
QI n n t en t tn e n t
tay at home with me
Nor vainly hope to see
A better day
Cling stou tly t o the real
seek for the idea !
So far away
ME
s
.
,
N
or
.
There is n o life unclean
N O useless thing or mean
T o nat ures fine
All have their p lace to fill
A n d high or lo w they thrill
With power divine
,
.
,
,
,
.
put thy dream aside
And lea rn what j oy s abide
In things that are
Here is the p lace O f God
As well this foot worn sod
A s yonder star
SO
,
.
,
-
.
22
,
G ra t tt n h e
than a dream of plea sure is the life of man
on eart h !
More than laughter of children babble o f
innocen t mirth
,
.
Better the long hard pathway that lead s to the shining
goal
Better the need O f c ourage and better the p atient so ul
,
.
.
,
’
There s gain we ca nnot m easure in the loss that s bravely
borne
There is tri ump h in the failure the strong man laugh s
to sco rn
’
.
.
There s more O f heart fo r kindness that our days are full
Of care
There is more Of deep compassion that dea th is every
where
’
.
.
33
E n ge t h e r
cozy nook an d an y weather
And you my love an d me together
HI S
,
,
,
A loaf to share an d a book or two
The evening lamp and near me yo u
.
The fre est o f speech an d quiet laughter
Then hours o f rest together after
,
.
The rousing dawn the new day s greeting
And so together the ye ars go fleeting
’
,
.
Whatever other good is given
I make my boast that this is H eav en
,
34
.
,
,
.
A ann r a n r e
dawn to dark a breath or two !
A dream a start and night is through
RO M
,
,
,
A cradle song a grave side prayer
And li fe and death our spi ri ts share
,
.
Whi ch the bette r or how w e change
That none c an say i s passin g strange
,
,
Nor do I doubt ea ch serves u s well
Tho h ow or why I ca nnot te ll
.
26
,
.
.
A ll
.
Wh o more than I can say I am
!
!
!
What to any being i s gr eater than i t i s
t o be th e th in g I am !
to
me
I am
Was there in al l the pa st o r is there now in the far
reaches O f unbounded space
A single l ife transcending m ine in al l tha t makes its
being d ear unto it se l f !
.
,
,
I am
B e fore the light of
And when existing
I w as and sh al l be
My beginning an d
t hings
.
suns or ev er earth took shape
things whirl to their doom
th ere
con t inuance abide in the natu re
,
,
,
.
of
.
I am
Ye st e rday and th e far t o mor row I may not grasp
Rem otest ca uses rising t o undreamed o f res ul ts per
m ea te m e
.
-
.
.
I am
Not a thin g separate nor to pass unac kn owl e dged
But as much to all as each or an y
.
,
.
37
,
I am
Within my being wrap t an d stil l lies v ast e st mystery
Which to my lonely mom e nts whisp ers th in gs I may n ot
cannot tell
.
.
I
am
.
And to regret or to distrust whatever thing I
Were to p rofane whatever else exists
.
am
,
,
fi
er n t m n
a he ro wh o can s tand
In solita ry ways
Fron tin g with a courage grand
U n even tful days
Living on w hen hope is gone !
B rav el y toilin g all al on e !
D o ing wha t m u s t n eeds be don e
W ith n o though t O f praise
s
,
,
.
'
H e s a hero th o h is name
And high e nd ea vor
On th e gre a t w or l d s scrol l
Ar e w rit ten n ever
In som e uns u sp ec ted pl ace
With a real heroi c grace
M eetin g fa il ur e face to
U nda un te d
,
,
’
.
,
,
O
f fame
J n t t h fu l J a i ln r e
SONG fo r the wretch ed outcast
Whom an an g ry m ob condemn
The m an whos e good i s forgotten
In the evil thoughts of men
A song for the lonely leader
Whose t hinking outruns the day
Wh o cl ings to his own ideal
Whatev er the world may say
.
,
.
A song for him wh
has fa ll en
In a cause few dared to serve
Who kn e w he must fai l at sta rtin g
But w a s not the man to swerv e
A son g for the r ight out voted
Th e w rong made right by d ecree
And m en w h o to such mean make shifts
Bend never the coward knee
o
,
.
-
,
,
.
A son g h
th e cruel thorn cro wn
The cross and the po i son bo w l
A song how the d u ngeon to rtures
A re scorned by a steadfast sou l
A son g how th e fallen conquer
How the seeming gain i s l ost
When age s revise false va l ues
And we l earn what tru th h a s cost
ow
-
,
-
.
,
,
30
.
,
Uh
e
I
S
the 3 a
e an t g o f
D
1!
OWN the open way I go
A thousand things are
dear
A fine companion ship I kn ow
In all I see and hear
.
My mistress is the buxom wind
I taste the breath of showers
To me the w h isp r in g l eaves are kind
And sweet the lips of flowers
,
.
’
.
The drowsy kine tu rn friendly eyes
They know me as I pass
I find a we l come in the skies
Another in the grass
.
,
.
A kinship
closer than O f blood
Holds me t o all the earth
Wh en once their use is understood
The rankes t weeds have worth
.
.
The roots of grasses by the spring
Call me to share their drink
And mid the forest s shadowing
Birds tell me al l they think
.
’
.
3!
,
,
,
I have not found th e wide world o er
A thing to sco rn as mean
Their beauties charm me all the more
T he deeper I have seen
’
,
.
I am at home
And Show
Their myriad
T he finest
-
wi t h ev erything
them all my heart !
voiced whispering
thoughts impart
.
On mountain top mid prairie s sweep
O r near the t h un d r in g sea
How friendly arm s around me creep
And hold me tenderly !
’
,
’
,
,
B e th is my evening p rayer
T hat now and ev er there
May come to m e no shame
O f what I tried to be
,
.
34
!Th i s
.
wh iz
I n !Su it
in mos t thought thy quenc hless pur e d esire
Thy dream o f good to be
T hy sense o f wha t in life or l ov e wer e be st
T hy vast awak en ing nee d
The de epening consc iousne ss o f what comp l etes thy life
Th is thi s i s God
HY
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
A ll
A ll
All
A ll
A ll
th at th e op en ey e de l igh ts to see
that a lert th e ear may revel in
th at to taste or touch brings ecstasy
sati s factions : health lei s u re work and sleep
hum an j oys born o f the pass in g day
T h i s th is is Go d
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
What mean i n gs fill the hour n o r bre ed d i sta ste
Wh at sym p athi es make sorrow sweet er far than tearle ss
nights
What h igh ambition quickens us to fai th fu lness n o fail
ure can o e rc o m e
W hat admirati ons stil l al lu re us ou
Thi s th is i s Go d
,
,
’
,
,
In
In
In
In
.
li fe of man al l heroism l ost to human sight
worl d O f h aste and tumul t brave and quiet l i ves
l onel iness and w a nt th e uncomplain ing hea rt
co urts and pal aces the kindl y simple mind
,
,
,
35
,
,
In prison ca ge the outc ast soul unbroken by th e reck
lessness Of legal courts
In dens of lu st th e heart s revo l t gainst au ght not born
o f love
Thi s this is Go d
,
’
'
.
,
Whate er is done to break whate er enchains
Whatever soul di sdain s the crowd s applause
Whatever thought awakes th e slu m b r in g world tho but
to kill
Whatever thinker dare t o spoil their rest
Whatever el se that serves the afterh orn
This this is Go d
’
’
,
’
,
’
,
.
,
The light that burn s so dim so long in savage breasts
The light howe er at times ob scured by doubt o r shroud
ed neath the dust of coarse neglect
The light of which so oft the fuel is some wild prophet s
secret tears
The light so framed about w ith lacquered altar ware
tis barely se en
The light : the my stic l ight that wi l l show all in ti m e
we now but guess
This th is is Go d
,
’
’
,
’
,
-
’
,
,
.
A B ay
In
mi m e
at a
is for those w h o l ove i t,
A
brave and good l y thing !
But al l i ts w o rth we gi ve it
And a ll i ts l oss w e bring
,
.
We may not spu rn the k nowing
N O day i s ours for l ong
And each mu st have it s st rew in g
Of so rrow and O f son g
,
.
Give each da y a ll thy h ea rt then
Li ve freely in th e who l e
L e t glad and sad have pa rt then
In b uil d ing up th y sou l !
.
.
37
,
O
e e
n n ss
more than the flesh that enshrouds me
I am more than the thoughts I possess
I am kin to the highest above me
I am kin to the lowest no l ess
A
M
,
.
,
.
And I win by my love from all being
The gift that each thing can bestow
For a s great as the sight is the seeing !
Transc ending the known is t o know
.
.
As the light of the sun in the rain mist
As the sta rs refl ect in the sea !
So what to my wonder seems vaste st
Is but a reflecti on from m e
,
.
And all things that my sp irit re ve re t h
A l l grandeur s my heart would en shrine
By command of th e silence that heare th
Already forever were mine
,
,
.
,
U h un li th i n g QIh r tst
Living Chri st the variant echoes of w hose
voice the crowds repeat
Lo ok on this son of those w h o nam ed thee
mad refused thy word
And scorned the daring few w h o gave thee faith !
Lo ve I not th ee the more for that I am content
T o worship so in quiet emulation of thy deed s !
HO U
,
,
,
,
O utcast am I from all their gilded fanes
And counted lost because I cannot say I thus and thus
be lieve
!
!
.
SO long thy t ru th they toss f rom lip to l ip,
So much they murmur it to charm the ear
Enamoured of what al l are pleased t o sa y !
The honest mockery that was thy death I more esteem
T ha n this establ i shed worship of thy name
.
Oh how I pity those w h o cannot fin d the living Christ
In ways obscu re in dai ly dutie s so j oyfully done
T hey grow delightful privi l ege in kind forgiving
thoughts
That l ift sta ined soul s toward purity an d p ea ce
In words withhol den tho we burn to Speak
T i ll after thoughts give kind l i er words their place !
,
,
,
,
,
,
39
Fain wou l d I gat her these priest burden ed ones
Beside th e open se a o r where the granite hill s
Move u s to p ray to where t h e soul o f ea ch
F inds room to grow and gain t h e ways o f God
T o where each feels a nointed but t o bless
And all
h o w they themselves may yet be saved
-
,
,
,
,
.
40
1
n
t h e fi i le n re
LE AR N of my soul in th e si l ence
Wi sdom no words can express
I find I am master Of forces
I had not dreamed I possess
.
The beauty I see in the si l ence
It ro bes with glory al l things
And the !oy it brings to my spi rit
Ra ise s me up as on wings
,
,
.
I know wh o I am in the s il ence
P erfect assurance is m i ne
I sense in the onen ess o f being
Al l that I am is div ine
,
.
.
From out o f th e silence I car ry
Makin g its bles sin g comp lete
Th e p ower to see through the seem in g
One l i fe in a l l that I meet
,
,
.
I bring
from the silen ce my me ssage
And speak as it gi ves m e vo ic e
My word to the u tte rmost creatu re
Is on ly th e word re j oice
!
,
4s
.
,
.
U he a
snt tr
fi nnl
th e pure and tru e a l l l ivin g th ings revea l
th e pur e and true
Thy foot can n eve r w ander from the path
Into untrodden w ays where Go d is not
O nly ours elve s His pres ence hindereth
On ly our bitt erness and sco rn
O ur ba se neg l ect our faith le ssness
N TO
.
.
,
,
,
.
A l l things but mirror back to us the hidden self
The Go d hath first His pl ace in con sciousness in con
science too
In eve ry d eep desire of th e m ind and in the things to
which we yield ou r heart
Ourselves give mea ning to real ity or make i t meaning
less an d bare
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
The cosmic so ul w aits to be bodi ed fo rth in ea rnest
faithful live s
We all may give in every word and act an added c on
firm a t ion of the trut h
T hat in th e life o f man abides the power divine
,
.
.
Seek not in ways remote fr om l ife to find
The truth th o u lea ve st un hee ded at th in e own hear thsi de
Tho u canst not separate from matter s gr oss and m e an
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43
T he sp irit 5 fin e st gift
Who once hath seen the light finds everyw h ere i ts t race
’
.
.
A ll arguments may fai l all form al cree ds p rov e fa l se
Only the limp ing so ul needs l ogi c s c ru tch !
Wh i l e to the p u re in heart the very air b reathes
And the very g round p u l s e s with tru t h
Natu re and God within man s hea rt are on e
T his inner un ity rema in s to be inte rpreted in terms o f
c om mon l i fe
So s ha ll the cos mi c sou l be pe rfect ed in u s
,
,
’
.
’
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.
.
why fi h n u lh
3 fir st!
s h ou l d I p ray since all thi ng s far and n ear
B ut answer to my spiri t s in mo s t n ee d !
Why should I ask fo r more
When a l l o f li fe but waits to fil l me
Wit h its wea l th of l ove and l ight !
I ca nnot find th e need life does n o t sa ti s fy
I h old my op en heart up to th e sun
And as each gl o be of de w reflects the light
SO i s my life mad e full and radi an t
Why shoul d I make app ea l for hel p from some far
sourc e
S ince l i fe i s min e s ince I am on e with H im
Wh o i s the life !
I ask n ot any gi ft o r grac e
Sa ve what a l rea dy crowns th e passin g day
I brin g my j oy my gratitu de my love
I enter into life fea rl ess and co nfid en t
I cle ans e myse l f from eve ry hate ful th ought
I make my daily toi l a son g of pra i s e
I l ove the ea rth and fe el i t s ve ry l ife i s pa rt o f me
My only p ray er i s gl adn e ss tha t I l iv e
That it i s mine to s hare w ith al l
The ligh t and l ove th at flood the un iv e rs e
My life sh all be mo re th an my w ords can tell
Gladn ess and grati tu de and l ove
HY
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'
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45
fl hn I
li n h e
t h e th a n 1
s
is the man I love !
P lace race weal t h dress are all alike indi i
fer ea t t o me
He may have learning vast or but be schooled
by stern experience
I ask not what his creed
O r who or what he p laces high as Go d
His conduct may from mine diverge as ea st from west
What he may love with pa ssionate desire may l eave me
cold as dea th
His ear and heart may be inca pable as yet to feel the
sweet allurements I cannot resist
And yet I love him reach him now both hand s and sa y
My Brother
I f but in all his words and acts I see the total pu rpose
of the man he is
H0
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
!
!
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.
.
.
,
,
!
!
.
Olr e h n
I believe that Go d is al l in a l l
That now we live amid divinest things !
Only our bl indness Shuts us from the truth
That here upon the co mmon earth is Hea ven
HI S
,
,
.
We need more c le a m e ss of our inward sen se
More purity o f heart more sym pathy !
More child l ike j oy in free abandonment
T o a l l that be a u t ifie s th e passing day
SO sha l l we feel how good it i s to l ive
T o be on e gl ad thing more exultin g in the freedom
the ea rth
,
,
,
.
And I belie ve there is no ca u se
O f evil but our ow n distrust and fear !
N O darkness but the blindness o f o u r heart
The re is no s in our brother may commit
That should not make more clear his n ee d o f us
There i s no so rrow no bitter loss or sh ame
But ca lls for love
And this is Christ each yearning of ou r soul
T o b l ess and save the meanest o f mankind
,
.
,
.
,
.
Obe ying so each noble manly thought
We grow to God ! an d th is at last will be
Our t ri u mph over death that w e have served
The pu rposes of l ife an d th rough ou r heart
Immo rta l l ove has moved up on the worl d
,
,
,
,
,
.
47
.
of
E xp e rt a n rg
HOL
my breath
And hush my very thought
In deep expecta ncy
D
As on e wh o in l an d listens to the sea
Or with his ear t o earth can tell the tr ead
,
of
march ing
m en ,
Atten ti ve I
I fee l the ages ripening i nto bl oom
Within the w omb of time I se nse the s ti rrin g o f eternity !
Instinct with l ove I k n ow the hour h as co m e
,