I Know My Soul
Published in Poem Of The Day
I plucked my soul out of its secret place,
And held it to the mirror of my eye,
To see it like a star against the sky,
A twitching body quivering in space,
A spark of passion shining on my face.
And I explored it to determine why
This awful key to my infinity
Conspires to rob me of sweet joy and grace.
And if the sign may not be fully read,
If I can comprehend but not control,
I need not gloom my days with futile dread,
Because I see a part and not the whole.
Contemplating the strange, I'm comforted
By this narcotic thought: I know my soul.
About this poem
"I Know My Soul" was published in Claude McKay's book "Harlem Shadows" (Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1922).
About Claude McKay
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica on Sept. 15, 1889. His debut collection, "Songs of Jamaica" was published in 1912. He died on May 22, 1948.
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This poem is in the public domain. Distributed by King Features Syndicate
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