I will have a new birthday to-day, A birth from the dark to the light, From the sad to the jubilant way, From weakness to masterful might. What matters the time I was born? New birth I now can attain: New life in this wakening morn, New hope, new heart, and new brain! Good-by to the outworn fears, Good-by to the ancient strife, Farewell to the doubts of hesitant years And the failure of olden life. I am done, this day I am done With the folly of cherished sin. I will stand upright, I will face the sun, And the angels may look within! For I do not stand alone. With thee, O Creator Christ, I seize the crown and I mount the throne, And assume the wealth unpriced. With thee, O Lord of all good! With thee, Inspirer of cheer! I dare and I grasp all that man ever could, And I enter my pristine year. New birth, imperial birth, New kingship of body and time, A fresh-made soul for a fresh-made earth, And joy in its blossoming prime! Irrevocably I go Forth, forth on the opening way, To achieve, to enjoy, to discover, to grow, For I take a new birthday -- to-day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EXISTING POOL by HAYDEN CARRUTH TUNK (A LECTURE ON MODERN EDUCATION) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE GARDEN OF ADONIS by EMMA LAZARUS THE GREAT RACE PASSES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, EXEKIEL, DANIEL by MARIANNE MOORE VARIATIONS ON A THEME: ROMANCE by EDITH SITWELL THREE SILENCES IN THAILAND by KAREN SWENSON THE LITTLE GIRL FOUND, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE |