TO THE SOUL.

O lark aspire!

Aspire forever, in thy morning sky!—

Forever soul, beat bravely, gladly, higher,

And sing and sing that sadness is a lie.

Forever, soul, achieve!

Droop not an instant into sloth and rest.

Live in a changeless moment of the best

And lower heights to Heaven forgotten leave.

Man still will strive.

Delight of battle leaped within his sires.

They laughed at death; and Life was all alive:

In him not blood it seeks, but vast desires.

He wakens from a dream

Reviews the forms he fought in ages gone —

He or his ancestors, their shapes are one:—

And also of himself the forms he battled seem.

He sees the truth!

“I wrestled with myself, and rose to strength.

Still be that progress mine!— I see at length

All World, all Soul are one, all ages youth!”