Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By GertrudeHall

1524 My Old Counselor

THE SUN looked from his everlasting skies,

He laughed into my daily-dying eyes;

He said to me, the brutal shining Sun:

“Poor, fretful, hot, rebellious, little one!

“Thou shalt not find it, yet there shall be truth;

Thou shalt grow old, but yet there shall be youth;

Thou shalt not do, yet great deeds shall be done,—

Believe me, child, I am an old, old Sun!

“Thou mayst go blind, yet fair will bloom the spring;

Thou mayst not hear them, but the birds will sing;

Thou mayst despair, no less will hope be rife;

Thou must lie dead, but many will have life.

“Thou mayst declare of love: it is a dream!

Yet long with love, my love, the Earth will teem:

Let not thy foolish heart be borne so low,—

Lift up thy heart! Exult that it is so!”