Strong, strong is earth
With vigour for thy feet,
To make thy wayfaring
Tireless and fleet.
And good is earth,—
But earth not all thy good,
O thou with seed of suns
And star-fire in thy blood!
And though thou feel
The slow clog of the hours
Leaden upon thy heel,
Put forth thy powers.
Thine the deep sky,
The unpreëmpted blue,
The haste of storm,
The hush of dew.
Thine, thine the free
Exalt of star and tree,
The reinless run
Of wind and sun,
The vagrance of the sea.
UNDER THE PILLARS OF THE SKY
Under the pillars of the sky
I played at life, I knew not why.
The grave recurrence of the day
Was matter of my trivial play.
The solemn stars, the sacred night,
I took for toys of my delight,
Till now, with startled eyes, I see
The portents of Eternity.