| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 963. Soul, Wherefore Fret Thee? |
| | | By Gertrude Bloede (“Stuart Sterne”) |
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| SOUL, wherefore fret thee? Striving still to throw | |
| Some light upon the primal mystery | |
| Through rolling ages pondered ceaselessly, | |
| Whence thou hast come, and whither thou shalt go! | |
| Some deepest, secret voice gives thee to know | 5 |
| How, older than created earth and sea, | |
| Thou hast been ever, shalt forever be,— | |
| Unborn—undying! Thy own life doth show, | |
| Yester, to-day, to-morrow, but a chain | |
| Of dusky pearls, whereof we seek in vain | 10 |
| End or beginning, though perchance the one | |
| We call To-day gleams whitest in the sun. | |
| Ay, Soul, thy very Self is unto thee | |
| Immortal pledge of Immortality! | |
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