The Soul of Man

Say, in a hut of mean estate
A light just glimmers and then is gone,
Nature is seen to hesitate, —
Put forth and then retract her pawn;

Say, in the alembic of an eye
Haughty is mixed with poor and low;
Say, Truth herself is not so high
But Error laughs to see her so;

Say, all that strength failed in its trust;
Say, all that wit crept but a span;
Say, 't is a drop spilled in the dust, —
And then say brother — then say man!