Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THIS IS THE MAKING OF MAN, by PRISCILLA LEONARD


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THIS IS THE MAKING OF MAN, by                    
First Line: Flame of the spirit and dust of the earth
Last Line: This is the making of man.
Subject(s): Creation; Religion; Theology


Flame of the spirit and dust of the earth—
This is the making of man;
This is his problem of birth:
Born to all holiness, born to all crime,
Heir to both worlds, on the long slope of time,
Climbing the path of God's plan.
Dust of the earth in his error and fear,
Weakness and malice and lust;
Yet, quivering up from the dust,
Flame of the spirit, upleaping and clear,
Yearning to God, since from God is his birth—
This is man's portion, to shape as he can,
Flame of the spirit and dust of the earth—
This is the making of man.





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