NOT drowsihood and dreams and mere idless, br Nor yet the blessedness of strength regained, br Alone are in what men call sleep. The past, br My unsuspected soul, my parents’ voice, br The generations of my forbears, yea, br The very will of God himself are there br And potent-working: so that many a doubt br Is wiped away at daylight, many a soil br Washed cleanlier, many a puzzle riddled plain. br Strong, silent forces push my puny self br Towards unguessed issues, and the waking man br Rises a Greatheart where a Slave lay down.