Not Yet my Soul

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h3>Not yet my soul</h3> <p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Not</span> yet, my soul, these friendly fields desert,<br/> Where thou with grass, and rivers, and the breeze,<br/> And the bright face of day, thy dalliance hadst;<br/> Where to thine ear first sang the enraptured birds;<br/> Where love and thou that lasting bargain made.<br/> The ship rides trimmed, and from the eternal shore<br/> Thou hearest airy voices; but not yet<br/> Depart, my soul, not yet awhile depart.</p> <p class="poetry">Freedom is far, rest far.&nbsp; Thou art with life<br/> Too closely woven, nerve with nerve intwined;<br/> Service still craving service, love for love,<br/> Love for dear love, still suppliant with tears.<br/> Alas, not yet thy human task is done!<br/> A bond at birth is forged; a debt doth lie<br/> Immortal on mortality.&nbsp; It grows&mdash;<br/> By vast rebound it grows, unceasing growth;<br/> Gift upon gift, alms upon alms, upreared,<br/> From man, from God, from nature, till the soul<br/> At that so huge indulgence stands amazed.</p> <p class="poetry">Leave not, my soul, the unfoughten field, nor leave<br/> Thy debts dishonoured, nor thy place desert<br/> Without due service rendered.&nbsp; For thy life,<br/> Up, spirit, and defend that fort of clay,<br/> Thy body, now beleaguered; whether soon<br/> Or late she fall; whether to-day thy friends<br/> Bewail thee dead, or, after years, a man<br/> Grown old in honour and the friend of peace.<br/> Contend, my soul, for moments and for hours;<br/> Each is with service pregnant; each reclaimed<br/> Is as a kingdom conquered, where to reign.</p> <p class="poetry">As when a captain rallies to the fight<br/> His scattered legions, and beats ruin back,<br/> He, on the field, encamps, well pleased in mind.<br/> Yet surely him shall fortune overtake,<br/> Him smite in turn, headlong his ensigns drive;<br/> And that dear land, now safe, to-morrow fall.<br/> But he, unthinking, in the present good<br/> Solely delights, and all the camps rejoice.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />