New Beginnings and Rebirth

We, the rescued, Beg you: Show us your sun, but gradually. Lead us from star to star, step by step. Be gentle when you teach us to live again. 2

To joyously savor one single instant of initial life I seek an innocent country 1

Is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate With shabby equipment always deteriorating In the general mess of imprecision of feeling, Undisciplined squads of emotion.

Now, God be thanked, Who has matched us with His hour, And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping.

I am assured at any rate Man’s practically inexterminate. Someday I must go into that. There’s always been an Ararat Where someone someone else begat To start the world all over at.

I shall set forth for somewhere, I shall make the reckless choice Some say when they are in voice And tossing so as to scare The white clouds over them on, I shall have less to say, But I shall be gone.

I’d like to get away from earth awhile And then come back to it and begin over. May no fate willfully misunderstand me And half grant what I wish and snatch me away Not to return. Earth’s the right place for love: I don’t know where it’s likely to go better.

So instead of getting to Heaven, at last— I’m going, all along.

Out of the wreck I rise.

To dry one’s eyes and laugh at a fall, And baffled, get up and begin again.

A banner with the strange device, Excelsior!

And other spirits there are standing apart Upon the forehead of the age to come; These, these will give the world another heart, And other pulses. Hear ye not the hum Of mighty workings _____ ? Listen awhile, ye nations, and be dumb.

So here hath been dawning Another blue Day: Think wilt thou let it Slip useless away.

The world’s great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn.

But Europe at that time was thrilled with joy, France standing on the top of golden hours, And human nature seeming born again.

And now the matchless deed’s achiev’d, Determin’d, dar’d, and done.

All, all of a piece throughout: Thy chase had a beast in view; Thy wars brought nothing about; Thy lovers were all untrue. ’Tis well an old age is out, And time to begin a new.

The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand with wand’ring steps and slow Through Eden took their solitary way.

Ask me no more if east or west The Phoenix builds her spicy nest; For unto you at last she flies, And in your fragrant bosom dies.

And now in age I bud again, After so many deaths I live and write; I once more smell the dew and rain, And relish versing: O my only light, It cannot be That I am he On whom thy tempests fell all night.

Then comes in the sweet o’ the year.

As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.

The true beginning of our end. 10

Yet in our asshen olde is fyr yreke.