The poem
God strengthen me to bear myself; That heaviest weight of all to bear, Inalienable weight of care.
All others are outside myself; I lock my door and bar them out The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.
I lock my door upon myself, And bar them out; but who shall wall Self from myself, most loathed of all?
If I could once lay down myself, And start self-purged upon the race That all must run ! Death runs apace.
If I could set aside myself, And start with lightened heart upon The road by all men overgone!
God harden me against myself, This coward with pathetic voice Who craves for ease and rest and joys
Myself, arch-traitor to mysel ; My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe, My clog whatever road I go.
Yet One there is can curb myself, Can roll the strangling load from me Break off the yoke and set me free