Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Second Book of Modern Verse. 1922.

In Excelsis

SPRING!

And all our valleys turning into green,

Remembering—

As I remember! So my heart turns glad

For so much youth and joy—this to have had

When in my veins the tide of living fire

Was at its flow;

This to know,

When now the miracle of young desire

Burns on the hills, and Spring’s sweet choristers again

Chant from each tree and every bush aflame

Love’s wondrous name;

This under youth’s glad reign,

With all the valleys turning into green—

This to have heard and seen!

And Song!

Once to have known what every wakened bird

Has heard;

Once to have entered into that great harmony

Of love’s creation, and to feel

The pulsing waves of wonder steal

Through all my being; once to be

In that same sea

Of wakened joy that stirs in every tree

And every bird; and then to sing—

To sing aloud the endless Song of Spring!

Waiting, I turn to Thee,

Expectant, humble, and on bended knee;

Youth’s radiant fire

Only to burn at Thy unknown desire—

For this alone has Song been granted me.

Upon Thy altar burn me at Thy will;

All wonders fill

My cup, and it is Thine;

Life’s precious wine

For this alone: for Thee.

Yet never can be paid

The debt long laid

Upon my heart, because my lips did press

In youth’s glad Spring the Cup of Loveliness!