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Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917.

John Hall Wheelock

Life

LIFE burns us up like fire,

And Song goes up in flame:

The radiant body smoulders

To the ashes whence it came.

Out of things it rises

With a mouth that laughs and sings,

Backward it fades and falters

Into the char of things.

Yet soars a voice above it—

Love is holy and strong;

The best of us forever

Escapes in Love and Song.