Joseph Pulitzer (1911)

[The blind editor of the New York World died October 29, 1911, murmuring in German, “Leise, ganz leise!” His paper always treated black folk fairly, in market contrast to most New York dailies.]

Softly, quite softly—

For I hear, above the murmur of the sea,

Faint and far-fallen footsteps, as of One

Who comes from out beyond the endless ends of Time,

With voice that downwar d looms thro' singing stars;

Its subtle sound I see thro' these long-darkened eyes,

I hear the Light He bringeth on his hands—

Almight Death! Softly, oh, softly, lest he pass me by,

And that unquivering Light toward which my longing soul

And tortured body through these years have writhed,

Fade to the dun darkness of my days.

Softly, full softly, let me rise and greet

The strong, low luting of that long - awaited call;

Swiftly be all my good and going gone,

And this vast veiled and vanquished vigor of my soul

Seek somehow otherwhere its rest and goal,

Where endless spaces stretch,

Where endless time doth moan,

Where endless light doth pour

Thro' the black kingdoms of eternal death.

Then haply I may see what things I have not seen,

Then I may know what things I have not known;

Then may I do my dreams!

Farewell! No sound of idle mourning let there be

To shudder this full silence—save the voice

Of children—little children, white and black,

Whispering the deeds I tried to do for them;

While I at last unguided and alone

Pass—softly, full softly.

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Citation: Du Bois, W.E.B. 1911. “Joseph Pulitzer.” The Crisis. 3(2):59.