I must get my soul back from you; I am killing my flesh without it.

I must get back my soul from you; I am killing my flesh without it.

I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my Soul,

Give me life, give me pain, give me myself again.

Grant me grace, O God! that I
My life may mend, sith I must die.

O God, if there be a God, save my soul, if I have a soul.

Ooh! Let me have it. Let me grab your soul away.

Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.

You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.

Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.

Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes.

Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go.

Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.

Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

How to Regain Your Soul

Come down Canyon Creek trail on a summer afternoon
that one place where the valley floor opens out. You will see
the white butterflies. Because of the way shadows
come off those vertical rocks in the west, there are
shafts of sunlight hitting the river and a deep
long purple gorge straight ahead. Put down your pack.

Above, air sighs the pines. It was this way
when Rome was clanging, when Troy was being built,
when campfires lighted caves. The white butterflies dance
by the thousands in the still sunshine. Suddenly, anything
could happen to you. Your soul pulls toward the canyon
and then shines back through the white wings to be you again.

Part of my soul I seek thee, and claim thee my other half

Return to me the substance I have lost, Mr. Foe. That is my entreaty.