What are Years?

What Are Years (1941)

What is our innocence,what is our guilt? All arenaked, none is safe. And whenceis courage: the unanswered question,the resolute doubt,-dumbly calling, deafly listening-thatin misfortune, even death,encourages othersand in its defeat, stirs

the soul to be strong? Hesees deep and is glad, whoaccedes to mortalityand in his imprisonment, risesupon himself asthe sea in a chasm, struggling to befree and unable to be,in its surrenderingfinds its continuing.

So he who strongly feels,behaves. The very bird,grown taller as he sings, steelshis form straight up. Though he is captive,his mighty singingsays, satisfaction is a lowlything, how pure a thing is joy.This is mortality,This is eternity.

“What Are Years?” From What Are Years (1941)