Lord Of My Heart's Elation

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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!

© Bliss William Carman