Poems (Coates 1916)/Volume I/Song of Life
For other versions of this work, see Song of Life (Coates).
SONG OF LIFE
MAIDEN of the laughing eyes,
Primrose-kirtled, wingèd, free,
Virgin daughter of the skies—
Joy!—whom gods and mortals prize,
Share thy smiles with me!
Yet—lest I, unheeding, borrow
Pleasure that to-day endears,
And benumbs the heart to-morrow,
Turn not wholly from me, Sorrow!
Let me share thy tears!
Give me of thy fullness, Life!
Pulse and passion, power, breath,
Vision pure, heroic strife,—
Give me of thy fullness, Life!—
Nor deny me death!