| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | The Way, the Truth, the Life | | By Theodore Parker (1810–1860) |
| | | O THOU great Friend to all the sons of men, | |
| Who once appear’dst in humblest guise below, | |
| Sin to rebuke, to break the captive’s chain, | |
| To call thy brethren forth from want and woe!— | |
| Thee would I sing. Thy truth is still the light | 5 |
| Which guides the nations groping on their way, | |
| Stumbling and falling in disastrous night, | |
| Yet hoping ever for the perfect day. | |
| Yes, thou art still the life; thou art the way | |
| The holiest know,—light, life and way of heaven; | 10 |
| And they who dearest hope and deepest pray | |
| Toil by the truth, life, way, that thou hast given; | |
| And in thy name aspiring mortals trust | |
| To uplift their bleeding brothers from the dust. | | | | |
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