The Prisoner of God
The Inn of Dreams
Once long and long ago I knew delight.God gave my spirit wings and a glad voice.I was a bird that sang at dawn and noon,That sang at starry evening time and night;Sang at the sun's great golden doors, and furledBrave wings in the white gardens of the moon;That sang and soared beyond the dusty world.
Once long and long ago I did rejoice,But now I am a stone that falls and falls.A prisoner, cursing the blank prison walls,Helpless and dumb, with desperate eyes, that seeThe terrible beauty of those simple thingsMy soul disdained when she was proud and free.And I can only pray: God pity me,God pity me and give me back my voice!God pity me and give me back my wings!