I came across a scrap of this poem, written by memory or possibly an older version than the one in the Evolution book, kept by my grandmother, who remembered it from my great grandfather (who died around 1925?)... I transcribed that copy, then found the entire book here.

The poem is fun, yet romantic, and perhaps even was an influence on Dr Suess.

I don't know if this is the first work where reincarnation was considered in the full extent of geologic time, but I suspect it is. I love the line where evolution has developed to the point of language, with the implied use of language to talk of love.

What a wonderful old book and poem to find on-line.