My answers seem to please, and steer
Their minds to what is learned by barren talk;
And I become a face
Sitting in the pool of my own loneliness,
Waiting their pleasure and their leave to go,
While they talk on of things which leave me chill with fear.

Why should I fear these things I do not understand?
For, as this chasm yawns below, my heart still says-
You are a man; there is a God.
And I, in mortal struggle with myself,
Fight on, without their help to make me stand.

These babes, still wet from mother’s womb,
Untouched as yet by love, or grief, or pain
Pick me to pieces:
And then expect to understand
How man himself can snuff the candle of his life,
What hell can do to bring one to the tomb.

When all my life lies shattered at their feet;
And they, with cold and clumsy step,
Have trodden there,
I reach, with nothing left of self esteem,
To find if, in their hearts as yet unscarred
There is a place for youth and broken man to meet
Some have not learned what bitterness has taught-
-To hide the heart from eye and mouth.
And that is good
For there I search for hope I’ve lost,
And find encamped behind a puzzled mien
The seed of comprehension which I’ve sought
This I must hold and keep and nurture,
For in its shade is strength and power
To break the dragon’s back.
And though they cannot ever know
What light of eye can do to lift a man
Pray God if shines whate’er is in their future.