I am the spirit of all that lives, I am the spirit of all that lives, Labours and loses and forgives. Labours and loses and forgives. My breath's the wind among the reeds; My breath's the wind among the reeds; I'm wounded when a birch-tree bleeds. I'm wounded when a birch-tree bleeds. I am the clay nest 'neath the eaves I am the clay nest 'neath the eaves And the young life wherewith it brims. And the young life wherewith it brims. The silver minnow where it swims The silver minnow where it swims Under a roof of lily-leaves Under a roof of lily-leaves Beats with my pulses. From my eyes Beats with my pulses. From my eyes The violet gathered amethyst. The violet gathered amethyst. I am the rose of winter skies, I am the rose of winter skies, The moonlight conquering the mist. The moonlight conquering the mist. I am the bird the falcon strikes; My strength is in the kestrel's wing, My cruelty is in the shrikes. I am the bird the falcon strikes; My pity bids the dock-leaves grow My strength is in the kestrel's wing, Large, that a little child may know My cruelty is in the shrikes. Where he shall heal the nettle's sting. My pity bids the dock-leaves grow I am the snowdrop and the snow, Large, that a little child may know Dead amber, and the living fir- Where he shall heal the nettle's sting. The corn-sheaf and the harvester. I am the snowdrop and the snow, My craft is breathed into the fox Dead amber, and the living fir- When, a red cub, he snarls and plays The corn-sheaf and the harvester. With his red vixen. Yea, I am The wolf, the hunter, and the lamb; I am the slayer and the slain, My craft is breathed into the fox The thought new-shapen in the brain. When, a red cub, he snarls and plays I am the ageless strength of rocks, With his red vixen. Yea, I am The weakness that is all a grace The wolf, the hunter, and the lamb; Being the weakness of a flower. I am the slayer and the slain, The secret on the dead man's face The thought new-shapen in the brain. Written in his last living hour, I am the ageless strength of rocks, The endless trouble of the seas The weakness that is all a grace That fret and struggle with the shore, Being the weakness of a flower. Strive and are striven with evermore- The secret on the dead man's face The changeless beauty that they wear Written in his last living hour, Through all their changes; all of these The endless trouble of the seas Are mine. The brazen streets of hell That fret and struggle with the shore, I know, and heaven's gold ways as well. Strive and are striven with evermore- Mortality, eternity, The changeless beauty that they wear Change, death, and life are mine-are me. Through all their changes; all of these Are mine. The brazen streets of hell I know, and heaven's gold ways as well. Mortality, eternity, Change, death, and life are mine-are me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE HAVE GONE THROUGH GREAT ROOMS TOGETHER by CARL SANDBURG PROMETHEUS by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 5. NIGHT SONG AT AMALFI by SARA TEASDALE THE CASE OF SABRINA SIMPSON USCH by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS CITY AND VILLAGE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON |