Page:The Soul of a Century.djvu/43

 Only within your inner self You grasp the world’s full scope, Therein reside unfettered thoughts, Therefrom spring deeds and hope.

Only within your inner self Can great ambitions breathe, And the sparkling diamonds of your hope Are woven in glory’s wreath.

Your inner-life is the only life Where you are free to reign, Beyond its scope you trample on Your neighbor’s fixed domain.

When beaten here and beaten there You grow weary with the strife; You are alone as a drifting spar On the stormy sea of life.

Your inner-life holds blissful peace, No quarrels threaten there, You rise within onto a mount, A giant, proud and fair.

People will come, bow down to you And honor your command, With silver words of praise they ring Your fame throughout the land.

The outer world is brightly garbed, With a siren’s call it spurs; Many a man has answered it, But never a man returns.

Who venture forth, brave angry storms, And when exhausted sleep, While the inner emptiness yields space To emotions, stirred and deep.

Learn well the art of inner life To know the joys of song. And having learned this, man decide To sing through right or wrong.