Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
 | I. |
|
DEDICATION TO THE SPIRIT OF HUMANITY. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| II. |
|
|
 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
DEDICATION TO THE SPIRIT OF HUMANITY.
1.
To Thee, Great Spirit! in whose service, I,So long have toiled; with what success I know
Not yet, but with a Heart where nothing low
Eér dwelt, nor Thought save of thy Ministry,
I dedicate these offerings! thine Eye,
Thy Godlike Eye, hath watched me until now,
Thou nobler Mother, from whose Breast doth flow
The pure, strong Milk of Human Charity.
Far other Gifts beseem thee, than a few
Poor Verses, Gifts which éen the meanest can
Afford thee, as the greatest! better than
Vain Gold or Incense. Actions, Actions true
To Nature and to Thee, these are thy Due,
Whose chosen Home is in the Heart of Man!
2.
Up from my Boyhood have I loved thy ways,And for thy sake, I tuned my Ear, till by
The deep, sweet music of Humanity,
My Heart was filled to overflowing! Praise
Be to thy holy Name; Thou in the Days,
When Form and Custom weave most easily
Their slavish Chains, didst Keep me free; 'twas thy
Wise schooling taught me to revere Man's Face
In all alike! in all to recognize
A holy Being; no one greater than
Another, but all from and of the skies!
And thou ,thou taught'st me too, in Life's brief Span,
23
With king or beggar, still to be, a Man!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |