Lord of My Heart’s Elation

Bliss Carman

Lord of my heart’s elation,

Spirit of things unseen,

Be thou my aspiration

Consuming and serene!

Bear up, bear out, bear onward

This mortal soul alone,

To selfhood or oblivion,

Incredibly thine own, —

As the foamheads are loosened

And blown along the sea,

Or sink and merge forever

In that which bids them be.

I, too, must climb in wonder,

Uplift at thy command, —

Be one with my frail fellows

Beneath the wind’s strong hand,

A fleet and shadowy column

Of dust or mountain rain,

To walk the earth a moment

And be dissolved again.

Be thou my exaltation

Or fortitude of mien,

Lord of the world’s elation,

Thou breath of things unseen!

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