George Moses Horton, Myself

George Moses Horton, Myself

by George Moses Horton

I feel myself in need

   Of the inspiring strains of ancient lore,

My heart to lift, my empty mind to feed,

   And all the world explore.

I know that I am old

   And never can recover what is past,

But for the future may some light unfold

   And soar from ages blast.

I feel resolved to try,

   My wish to prove, my calling to pursue,

Or mount up from the earth into the sky,

   To show what Heaven can do.

My genius from a boy,

   Has fluttered like a bird within my heart;

But could not thus confined her powers employ,

   Impatient to depart.

She like a restless bird,

   Would spread her wing, her power to be unfurl’d,

And let her songs be loudly heard,

   And dart from world to world.