I give back to the earth what the earth gave, All to the furrow, nothing to the grave. The candle's out, the spirit's vigil spent; Sight may not follow where the vision went. I leave you but the sound of many a word In mocking echoes haply overheard. I sang to heaven. My exile made me free, From world to world, from all worlds carried me. Spared by the Furies, for the Fates were kind, I paced the pillared cloisters of the mind; All times my present, everywhere my place, Nor fear, nor hope, nor envy saw my face. Blow what winds would, the ancient truth was mine, And friendship mellowed in the flush of wine, And heavenly laughter, shaking from its wings Atoms of light and tears for mortal things. To trembling harmonies of field and cloud, Of flesh and spirit was my worship vowed. Let form, let music, let the all-quickening air Fulfil in beauty my imperfect prayer. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO THE BROWN PAPER BAG by JAMES GALVIN PERSPECTIVE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO EMILIE BIGELOW HAPGOOD - PHILANTHROPIST by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON NOBODY'S LOOKIN' BUT DE OWL AND DE MOON (A NEGRO SERENADE) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CRITIC AND POET by EMMA LAZARUS MARJORIE'S WOOING by EMMA LAZARUS |