Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VI. Human Experience | | The Rise of Man | | John White Chadwick (1840–1904) |
| | | THOU for whose birth the whole creation yearned | |
| Through countless ages of the morning world, | |
| Who, first in fiery vapors dimly hurled, | |
| Next to the senseless crystal slowly turned, | |
| Then to the plant which grew to something more,— | 5 |
| Humblest of creatures that draw breath of life,— | |
| Wherefrom through infinites of patient pain | |
| Came conscious man to reason and adore: | |
| Shall we be shamed because such things have been, | |
| Or bate one jot of our ancestral pride? | 10 |
| Nay, in thyself art thou not deified | |
| That from such depths thou couldst such summits win? | |
| While the long way behind is prophecy | |
| Of those perfections which are yet to be. | | | | |
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