Bliss Carman (1861-1929)
Lord of my Heart's Elation
1Lord of my heart's elation,
2Spirit of things unseen,
3Be thou my aspiration
4Consuming and serene!
5Bear up, bear out, bear onward
6This mortal soul alone,
7To selfhood or oblivion,
8Incredibly thine own,—
9As the foamheads are loosened
10And blown along the sea,
11Or sink and merge forever
12In that which bids them be.
13I, too, must climb in wonder,
14Uplift at thy command,—
15Be one with my frail fellows
16Beneath the wind's strong hand,
17A fleet and shadowy column
18Of dust or mountain rain,
19To walk the earth a moment
20And be dissolved again.
21Be thou my exaltation
22Or fortitude of mien,
23Lord of the world's elation,
24Thou breath of things unseen!
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Bliss Carman, Pipes of Pan. Number Two. From the Green Book of the Bards (Boston: L. C. Page, 1903), pp. 1-2. PS 8455 A7P5 1903 vol. 2 Robarts Library.
First publication date:
1903
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1998.
Recent editing: 4:2002/1/26
Composition date:
26
August
1894
Rhyme: abcb
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