Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AFFIRMATION AS long as vigorous discontent Goads us from torpid ease, or worse, I thank the power that sent Struggle, the savior of the universe. As long as things are torn and hurled In this implacable unrest, I shall embrace the world With joyful fierceness and undying zest. I shall grow strong with every hurt; The scorn, the anger will achieve Only a glad, alert Desire to question boldly ? and believe. My eager faith shall keep me set Against despair or careless hate, Knowing this smoke and sweat Is forging something violent ? and great! DOWN-HILL ON A BICYCLE THE rolling earth stops As I climb to the summit. Then like a plummet It suddenly drops… Down, down I go? Past rippling acres; Hillsides like breakers Over me flow. Wildly alive I hail the green shimmer, Fresh as a swimmer After the dive. Like banners unfurled The skies dip and flourish? The keen breezes nourish, While the bright world DOWN-HILL ON A BICYCLE Is a ribbon unrolled With a border of grasses; And tansies are masses And splotches of gold. Still I whirl on? Startled, a sparrow Darts from the yarrow, Flash ? and is gone. .. Faster the gleams Die as they dazzle? And roadsides of basil Turn to pink streams. Sharp as a knife Is each perfume and color. To feel nothing duller? God, that were Life! MIDNIGHT-BY THE OPEN WINDOW HOW rapt the sleeping stillness of the night? Incomparably close and vast…One might Hear the tense silence in the little street Reaching to heaven, where it swells and breaks Into moon-music and star-song that makes My senses bend and sway, as waving wheat Trembles before the wind’s majestic feet; Trembles with happy fear and numb delight. How sharp the silence…like …
