the birth-throes of mighty ventures,

travail,

and the terrible temptations of a noisy following,

multitudinous as ocean-waves,

an utter wreckage of energy

in vain attempts to conquer the unconquerable,

the world’s Pacific

of Vanity, and its Atlantic

of Ignorance,

pride,

and continual self-absorption,

and the blinding glory

of success out-distancing Hope–

of prophets and founders of faiths!

at Thy especial fondness for me

in keeping me Thy servant ever,

assigning me delightful duties

along ways perfectly smooth,

in letting me be

near Thee,

always!

that Thine is perilous employ,

that the way to Thee

is infest with demons dread?

not merely believe,

that Thou art the easiest approached,

dweling,

not on impossible mountain-tops

not in close fastnesses of steel,

turreted and deep-moated,

but in the heart of all things!

simpler than the child-heart,

Thy walks

are luminous with the light of a trillion stars!

nor the secret rites of the chosen;

everyone that cares is Thy chosen,

Thou first and truest Democrat!

beringed with busy priests

dispensing pardons

to the profane crowd beneath

holding forth lucre

in eager outstretched palms?

as an arrow to its mark,

flies to Thee

the eagle of my accustomed heart,

Thou indwelling Majesty!

the legendary Past

and the wild phantasmagoria

of the living Present;

and it swings

to the great Was

before land and sea were made,

and the green hills and valleys

and the ancient skies

and the sun and the stars,

and to the great Will Be

when all these will not be!

alone, together,

sweetly discoursing

of what I cannot tell,

in a wordless tongue!