HELEN KELLER
In darkness deep by day and night,
A fettered child without a ray—
No word of speech, no sound, no sight
To lift a soul to Heaven’s day.
But Patience came in Love’s sweet way,
And smiled and wept and wept and smiled,
With failure oft, yet would essay
To lighten the mind of a captive child.
What mortal e’er in such a plight?
What twain beset with such dismay,
As guide and child in the long drawn fight
To lift a soul to Heaven’s day?
No victor great, no ruler’s sway,
Reveals such triumph, pure and mild;
No leader nobler zeal portray,
To lighten the mind of a captive child.
And darkness gross and many a blight
Leave other children far astray;
And they call loud for some brave knight
To lift a soul to Heaven’s day.
Then who the priceless pearl will pay,
To lift a soul so dark and wild,
From the deepest pit, as a piece of clay—
To lighten the mind of a captive child?
Envoy
’Tis faith and work, with hope’s delay,
To lift a soul to Heaven’s day,
From Night’s dim depths, by love beguiled,
To lighten the mind of a captive child.