| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917. |
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| 378. On the Birth of a Child |
| | | By Louis Untermeyer |
| | | | | Jerome Epstein—August 8, 1912 |
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| LO—to the battle-ground of life, | |
| Child, you have come, like a conquering about, | |
| Out of a struggle—into strife; | |
| Out of a darkness—into doubt. | |
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| Girt with the fragile armor of youth, | 5 |
| Child, you must ride into endless wars, | |
| With the sword of protest, the buckler of truth, | |
| And a banner of love to sweep the stars. | |
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| About you the world’s despair will surge; | |
| Into defeat you must plunge and grope— | 10 |
| Be to the faltering an urge; | |
| Be to the hopeless years a hope! | |
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| Be to the darkened world a flame; | |
| Be to its unconcern a blow— | |
| For out of its pain and tumult you came, | 15 |
| And into its tumult and pain you go. | |
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