O lovely, lilting, laughing life of mine,
O music-making, mirthing might of me,
O rapture-writing, paper-radiant shrine,
Whose every cheering note is flying free
To hearing/cheering ears that take and hold
Love’s sovereign song that’s gleaming liquid gold,
O spirit me-and-man in spirit one,
Triumphant more than May-dawn’s rising sun—
Our love-in-us is mortal, mortal soars,
As fragile/agile words ‘ope granite doors!
Beyond the darkest caves and walls of time
Yes, a man steps forth, breathes stars sublime,
While speak I, too, my bare melodic birth
Up-climbing winding stairs of human worth!