| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Second Book of Modern Verse. 1922. |
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| In Excelsis |
| | | Thomas S. Jones, Jr. |
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| 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 | 5 |
| 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 | 10 |
| 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! | 15 |
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| 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 | 20 |
| 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— | 25 |
| To sing aloud the endless Song of Spring! | |
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| Waiting, I turn to Thee, | |
| Expectant, humble, and on bended knee; | |
| Youth’s radiant fire | |
| Only to burn at Thy unknown desire— | 30 |
| 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 | 35 |
| 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! | 40 |
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