God, give me breath for one brave fight—
For one great deed that the world will hear;
If not, then God give me night.

Night, with a candle to light the gloom,
And the comfort shadows and twilight cheer,
Crowding like friends in the room.

God, give me valor, and courage, and breath
For one great fight that the stars will see;
If not, then God give me death.

Death, with one candle to light the gloom
From the church to the door of Eternity—
Where, Lord, Thou wilt portion my doom.

Better the death, ere the beard be grown,
Than the idle waiting with sheathèd sword—
Uncheered, uncrowned, unknown.

God, give me breath for one fight more—
For one great fight in Thy name, O Lord;
If not, then close me the door.

Thus sang the Dreamer, with hands along
The clanging strings—then, loosing his lyre,
He flushed with the pride of his song;

For he was a poet, and lived in the gleam
Of the wonderful deeds that he touched to fire;—
How brave he was in his dream!