| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (18691948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917. |
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| 25. Life |
| | | By John Hall Wheelock |
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| LIFE burns us up like fire, | |
| And Song goes up in flame: | |
| The radiant body smoulders | |
| To the ashes whence it came. | |
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| Out of things it rises | 5 |
| With a mouth that laughs and sings, | |
| Backward it fades and falters | |
| Into the char of things. | |
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| Yet soars a voice above it | |
| Love is holy and strong; | 10 |
| The best of us forever | |
| Escapes in Love and Song. | |
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