Page:Poems, Alan Seeger, 1916.djvu/219

 In the soft fibres of the tender flesh

I saw potentialities of Joy

Ten thousand lifetimes could not use. Dear Earth,

In this dark month when deep as morning dew

On thy maternal breast shall fall the blood

Of those that were thy loveliest and thy best,

If it be fate that mine shall mix with theirs,

Hear this my natural prayer, for, purified

By that Lethean agony and clad

In more resplendent powers, I ask nought else

Than reincarnate to retrace my path,

Be born again of woman, walk once more

Through Childhood's fragrant, flowery wonderland

And, entered in the golden realm of Youth,

Fare still a pilgrim toward the copious joys

I savored here yet scarce began to sip;

Yea, with the comrades that I loved so well

Resume the banquet we had scarce begun

When in the street we heard the clarion-call

And each man sprang to arms—ay, even myself

Who loved sweet Youth too truly not to share

Its pain no less than its delight. If prayers

Are to be prayed, lo, here is mine! Be this

My resurrection, this my recompense! 169