THE IMPERATIVE
Whether we lose the light
Of love or of the sun,
With body and blood and mind and might
Must this sole thing be done:
The world is a broken ball,
Stained red because it fell
Out of bounds, in a game of kings,
Over the wall of hell:
And now must the spirit of man
Arise and adventure all—
Leap the wall sheer down into hell
And bring up the broken ball.
Worth well, to lose the light
Of love or of the sun,
Worth endless fire or endless night,
So this sole thing were done!