University of Virginia Library

OTHER MANHOODS

Be sure that, ever from the birth thereof,
Both earth and sea are sentiently alive
And in the cosmic harmony perform
A willing part, to holy law conform'd,
Sounding at times an individual note—
Conceived within them—through the starry hymn
Which—Ave, ave!—high creation chants.
The leaf which shrivels in the hand can feel,
Though it be feebly, and the bud which lifts
Its head to catch the sunlight or the dew—
Here something in us prompts and forces faith—
Discerns, though dimly, moisture, light and heat
As life and health and happiness. Through all
That lives some form of consciousness pulsates
And not all blindly struggles towards the good,
Sharing some part of our humanity,
Seeking increase thereof. That joyous bird
Which in the glare of this light-clouded sun
Pours forth a fountain-music from his soul,
Is surely conscious of the power of song,
And in a measurable way perceives
The beauty of it—in his own degree
Is therefore poet, since the gift is his,
The conscious use and simple love thereof.
In some translation of a later day,
Some evolution now on earth undream'd,
Are any heights forbidden him?—Who knows?
This only—from the deeps within ourselves,
Above the common interests of sense,
Strange pasts at times well up, of leaf and bud,
And we who know not truly what we are
Know also not, yet guess, what once we were.