The House of Life: 66. The Heart of the Night

From child to youth; from youth to arduous man; From lethargy to fever of the heart; From faithful life to dream-dower'd days apart; From trust to doubt; from doubt to brink of ban;— Thus much of change in one swift cycle ran Till now. Alas, the soul!—how soon must she Accept her primal immortality,— The flesh resume its dust whence it began? O Lord of work and peace! O Lord of life! O Lord, the awful Lord of will! though late, Even yet renew this soul with duteous breath: That when the peace is garner'd in from strife, The work retriev'd, the will regenerate, This soul may see thy face, O Lord of death!