Gods

2

Lover Divine, and Perfect Comrade!

Waiting, content, invisible yet, but certain,

Be thou my God.

3

Thou—thou, the Ideal Man!

Fair, able, beautiful, content, and loving,

Complete in Body, and dilate in Spirit,

Be thou my God.

4

O Death—(for Life has served its turn;)

Opener and usher to the heavenly mansion!

Be thou my God.

5

Aught, aught, of mightiest, best, I see, conceive, or know,

(To break the stagnant tie—thee, thee to free, O Soul,)

Be thou my God.

6

Or thee, Old Cause, when’er advancing;

All great Ideas, the races’ aspirations,

All that exalts, releases thee, my Soul!

All heroisms, deeds of rapt enthusiasts,

Be ye my Gods!

7

Or Time and Space!

Or shape of Earth, divine and wondrous!

Or shape in I myself—or some fair shape, I, viewing, worship,

Or lustrous orb of Sun, or star by night:

Be ye my Gods.