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 SUNG IN THE TOWN HALL, CONCORD, JULY 4, 1857 by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE MARRIAGE VOW by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON TO MRS. MARTHA BLOUNT (ON HER BIRTHDAY, 1723) by ALEXANDER POPE MINIVER CHEEVY by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON A CRADLE SONG OF THE NIGHT WIND by WILLIS BOYD ALLEN THREE EPISTLES TO G. LLOYD ON A PASSAGE FROM HOMER'S ILIAD: 3 by JOHN BYROM VERSES: THE FIRST BOY by JOHN BYROM PUTTING THE CREAM IN THE WELL OF VERMONT by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY |