Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUT OF THE DEPTHS (DE PROFUNDIS), by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUT OF THE DEPTHS (DE PROFUNDIS), by                    
First Line: Out of the depths comes a voice I hear calling
Last Line: Oh thus spake the voice to me.
Subject(s): Obedience; Voices


(De Profundis)

Out of the depths comes a voice I hear calling,
Calling "Young man, young man,"
Soft on my ear are its grave accents falling,
Ever "Young man, young man,
The years are unfolding
The life you are moulding,
What is it, young man, to be?
Will you fashion your clay
In a haphazard way,
Or build for eternity,
Or build for eternity?"

Out of the depths comes a voice I hear saying,
Saying, "Young man, young man,"
A voice that reproaches, in language inveighing,
"Why do you lag, young man?
The world is demanding
The life you're commanding,
The life that you waste away,
There's no need for droning
With strength that you're owning,
Necessity cries to-day,
Necessity cries to-day."

Out of the depths comes a voice that is pleading,
Pleading, "Young man, young man,
Your Master entreats and you should be heeding,
You must obey, young man,
In each undertaking
Your history's making,
Build for the future to see,
For life is beginning,
Your spurs you are winning,"
Oh thus spake the voice to me.
Oh thus spake the voice to me.





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