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!
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.
Space for the eagle in the vaulted sky 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.
Space for the ocean, in its giant might, 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.
Then, pure and gentle ones, within your ark Securely rest!Blue be the skies above, and your still bark By kind winds bless'd.