During climactic times in history, the world has turned to its great poets for nourishment, courage and inspiration. So at this time it seems fitting to make a somewhat broad selection of Albert Steffen’s poetry available to the English-speaking world; for his work is of the forward-looking and original quality of those poets who, down the ages, have led the way into the future for their fellows. (Christy Barnes and Joel Kobran)

Steffen the poet never stands there alone. Round about him there is always a whole world. He does not merely utter his own feelings, but always lets us sense an immeasurable world surrounding what he expresses.
— Rudolf Steiner

Chorus of All
Let this be for us our cosmic goal:
To paint a living picture for the soul,
Which the claws of death cannot despoil,
Which lights the darkest dungeon deep below–
Take a new earth with us when we go,
Which no evil shadow e’er can soil,
No tide nor flood can ever wash away
No wind that blows can ever bleach or blight,
Will never yield to acid’s poisoned bite,
Will never melt in fire’s burning ray,
That’s brighter than the sun’s own visage is,
But only Christ himself can give us this!

Albert Steffen
from Adonis Play in
The Power for Resurrection’s Flight