I said to life, "how comes it,
With all this wealth in store,
Of beauty, joy, and knowledge,
Thy cry is still for more?
"Count all the years of striving
To make thy burden less,—
The things designed and fashioned
To gladden thy success!
"The treasures sought and gathered
Thy lightest whim to please,—
The loot of all the ages,
The spoil of all the seas!
"Is there no end of labor,
No limit to thy need?
Must man go bowed forever
In bondage to thy greed?"
With tears of pride and passion
She answered, "God above!
I only wait the asking,
To spend it all for love!"
I am busy working to bring Bliss Carman's "The Gift" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Bliss Carman's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "The Gift" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.