"Hearken, O poet, whom I led
From the dark wood! Dismissing dread,
Now hear this angel in my stead.
From the dark wood! Dismissing dread,
Now hear this angel in my stead.
"His organ's pedals strike along
These poets' hearts, which metal-strong,
They gave him without count of wrong,—
These poets' hearts, which metal-strong,
They gave him without count of wrong,—
"From which foundation he can guide
Up to God's feet, from these who died,
An anthem fully glorified!
Up to God's feet, from these who died,
An anthem fully glorified!
"Whereat God's blessing . . . Ibarak (יברך)
Breathes back this music—folds it hack
About the earth in vapoury rack:
Breathes back this music—folds it hack
About the earth in vapoury rack:
"And men walk in it, crying 'Lo!
The world is wider, and we know
The very heavens look brighter so!
The world is wider, and we know
The very heavens look brighter so!
"'The stars walk statelier round the edge
O' the silver spheres, and give in pledge
Their light for nobler privilege.
O' the silver spheres, and give in pledge
Their light for nobler privilege.
"'No little flower hut joys or grieves—
Full life is rustling in the sheaves;
Full spirit sweeps the forest-leaves!'
Full life is rustling in the sheaves;
Full spirit sweeps the forest-leaves!'
"So works this music on the earth!
God so admits it, sends it forth,
To add another worth to worth—
God so admits it, sends it forth,
To add another worth to worth—
"A new creation-bloom that rounds
The old creation, and expounds
His Beautiful in tuneful sounds.
The old creation, and expounds
His Beautiful in tuneful sounds.
"Now hearken!" Then the Poet gazed
Upon the angel glorious-faced,
Whose hand, majestically raised,
Upon the angel glorious-faced,
Whose hand, majestically raised,
Floated across the organ-keys,
Like a pale moon o'er murmuring seas,
With no touch hut with influences.
Like a pale moon o'er murmuring seas,
With no touch hut with influences.
