'And so,' I said, much after having striven,
'We mount close upward to the bar of heaven;
But all our strength is spent upon the road,
And cannot take the gift when it is given.

Doubt is our attitude of mind from birth;
We cannot see, for memories of earth;
We cannot breathe the rich and rarer air,
To know the beauty and account the worth.'

'And yet,' one said, 'you will not dare to say
A man is free to turn his face away,
Heedless of all the other friends of God,
And selfishly pursue a silent way!

Surely the earth must ever find a place;
Surely the human claim is no disgrace.'
— 'But he must free himself who dares to mount
The highest heaven and ask to see God's face.'