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From “Poems of Life and Death”
LIFE, | |
| The great Life, | |
| Came unto me: | |
| He of old ages, | |
| The eternal, | 5 |
| The owner of all, | |
| Came, and his word was for me, | |
| Calling my name: | |
| And the radiance of his presence shone about me. | |
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| With leaping heart I heard his voice | 10 |
| And the entering of his steps over my threshold: | |
| Heard, and was not troubled; | |
| Because it was known to me a long time | |
| What answer I should make to Life. | |
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| With outstretched, quiet hands, | 15 |
| With unreluctant face, | |
| I stood before him, | |
| And let my eyes look into the eyes of Life: | |
| And I gave, and delivered up to Life, | |
| Myself: | 20 |
| Utterly. | |
| Yielding me | |
| As one yields and delivers to another | |
| A dumb vessel. | |
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| Mighty and splendid is the presence of Life. | 25 |
| By a far road he comes | |
| And travels a great way before | |
| And sways the world. | |
| I trembled to be near his glory, | |
| But with unbowing head I stood before him, | 30 |
| With unbowing head and proud heart; | |
| Knowing my service that I should perform to the honoring of Life. | |
| And in his dignity I was exalted. | |
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| Now for a term I am not my own, | |
| But Life is my master: | 35 |
| And I dwell under his commandment, | |
| Beneath the fostering of his wings. | |
| Wrapped in the mantle of Life, | |
| Patient, by ways apart, I go; | |
| Bearing in my flesh his sign | 40 |
| That I am one of his chosen: | |
| The instrument of his purpose; the way of his will. | |
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| Slowly day follows day, | |
| Laying its hands upon me with invisible touch, | |
| Molding my flesh; | 45 |
| And I tarry waiting upon Life | |
| Until the use he purposes for me shall be accomplished, | |
| And his intent be fulfilled: | |
| Until the wonder is wrought upon me that now possesses my days. | |
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