Selections from the American Poets/To ---
TO ———.
Oh, pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the sky above; your quiet bark
By soft winds bless'd!
Securely rest!
Blue be the sky above; your quiet bark
By soft winds bless'd!
Still toil in duty and commune with Heaven,
World-wean'd and free:
God to his humblest creatures room has given,
And space to be.
World-wean'd and free:
God to his humblest creatures room has given,
And space to be.
Space for the eagle in the vaulted sky
To plume his wing;
Space for the ringdove by her young to lie,
And softly sing.
To plume his wing;
Space for the ringdove by her young to lie,
And softly sing.
Space for the sunflower, bright with yellow glow,
To court the sky;
Space for the violet, where the wild woods grow,
To live and die.
To court the sky;
Space for the violet, where the wild woods grow,
To live and die.
Space for the ocean, in its giant might,
To swell and rave;
Space for the river, tinged with rosy light,
Where green banks wave.
To swell and rave;
Space for the river, tinged with rosy light,
Where green banks wave.
Space for the sun, to tread his path in might
And golden pride;
Space for the glow-worm, calling, by her light,
Love to her side.
And golden pride;
Space for the glow-worm, calling, by her light,
Love to her side.
Then, pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the skies above, and your still bark
By kind winds bless'd.
Securely rest!
Blue be the skies above, and your still bark
By kind winds bless'd.