Oh, what am I but an engine, shod
With muscle and flesh, by the hand of God,
Speeding on through the dense, dark night,
Guided alone by the soul’ s white light.
Often and often my mad heart tires,
And hates its way with a bitter hate,
And longs to follow its own desires,
And leave the end in the hands of fate.
O, mighty engine of steel and steam;
O, human engine of blood and bone,
Follow the white light’ s certain beam —
There lies safety, and there alone.
The narrow track of fearless truth,
Lit by the soul’ s great eye of light,
O passionate heart of restless youth,
Alone will carry you through the night.