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THE SERVING SOUL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: What is thy errand, o soul
Last Line: Will though thou wrestle with fate.


What is thy errand, O soul,
Conqueror in warfare on earth, ere man;
Fusing with freedom the whole
Of earth, sea, air, fire, in thy small span;
Victory incarnate, champion, life's breath
Born on the pale lips of death.

Herald despatched from the fight,
Scathless from foes by water, by land;
Kindling the world with thy light,
Sowing earth thick with life from thy hand.
Dome with new heavens and stars a new earth,
Bring death and dark to new birth.

Finder of fire in flint;
Fuser of iron; planter of corn;
Following nature's each hint,
Whither invention and art are born.
Where is the task can surpass thy power?
Mind and its gifts are thy dower.

Conquer the nature of man,
Curious for knowledge, hopeful, fond, brave;
Battling to do all dust can,
Following fairest dreams to the grave.
Out of the mire and beast, Hail! Arise!
Be all that man can comprise.

Conquer the nature of God,
Patient, persistent, fertile, benign.
Quickening a brain, or a clod;
Seeing in evil and sin design;
Bringing to pass His eternal thought;
Scorning ideas until wrought.

Courage that conquered the brute;
Power prevailing o'er human foes;
Swiftness beyond death's pursuit;
Famine's lean pack, fevers' throes.
Danger nor hardship can daunt thee now,
Failure nor fear cloud thy brow.

Pioneer, unarmed and meek.
Bearer of seed, not seeker for gold;
Leaving behind what men seek,
Seeking what men by their sins have sold.
Ignorance, misery, share thy lot:
Honor, wealth, fame long forgot.

Sun-rise will always be young,
Dawn's star to mountain and ocean sings,
Freshly as blind Homer sung
God-trodden, deathless vision of things.
Fresh be thy thought and thy strength as the dew,
Daring and deed be as new.

Hewer of life to thy thought,
Seer of visions, dreamers of dreams,
Not less than others have wrought,
Must be thy labors; life with work teems.
Greater than Hercules' tasks are thine,
Conquer thy world, -- be divine.

Look not behind thee, nor fear.
Forward be thy strong reach, thy desire.
Gaze not afar, peer thou near.
Truth is whatever soul can inspire,
Golden those ages the world will see,
When man from fear shall be free.

Plant if thou never may'st reap;
Build if thou never enter therein;
Gain though the heavens forbid thee keep,
Pray though thou only repeat thy sin.
Love though thy love be answered by hate,
Will though thou wrestle with fate.





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