O Mystery of life, br That, after all our strife, br Defeats, mistakes, br Just as, at last, we see br The road to victory, br The tired heart breaks. br br Just as the long years give br Knowledge of how to live, br Life's end draws near; br As if, that gift being ours, br God needed our new powers br In worlds elsewhere. br br There, if the soul whose wings br Were won in suffering, springs br To life anew, br Justice would have some room br For hope beyond the tomb, br And mercy, too. br br And since, without this dream br No light, no faintest gleam br Answers our 'why'; br But earth and all its race br Must pass and leave no trace br On that blind sky; br br Shall reason close that door br On all we struggled for, br Seal the soul's doom; br Make of this universe br One wild answering curse, br One lampless tomb? br br Mine be the dream, the creed br That leaves for God, indeed, br For God, and man, br One open door whereby br To prove His world no lie br And crown His plan.