O Friend, Begin A Loftier Song.

O friend, begin a loftier song. Confusion falls upon your mind; A sense of evil makes you blind; "What use," you say, "is it to be? I know not GOD, GOD knows not me!"

O friend, begin a loftier song. In other minds you place no trust: You tread your laurels in the dust: You see no Future, Hope has fled, Youth had its dreams, but Youth is dead.

O friend, begin a loftier song. "The sweet ideal of past years Speaks in my songs, they are my tears: I'll weep no more, I'll sing no lays To bury Youth for idle praise!"

O friend, begin a loftier song. Come through the gateway of the Past, Dear friend. The world will hear at last The little songs the poets sing: Do thou with anthems make it ring!