University of Virginia Library


41

“WHAT HOLDS THEE BACK?”

What holds thee back then? Hast thou aught to do,
And fearest for the venture, art thou too,
So light a thing that every wind blows through?
What hast thou envied in the lives of these,
That thou should'st heed to please them or displease
And fill thine own with mirrored mockeries?
This arm of thine is thine alone, and strong
To thy free service through thy whole life long,
Hear thine heart's voice, it will not lead thee wrong!