Page:A channel passage and other poems (IA channelpassageot00swinrich).pdf/72

The dark old God who had slain him grew one with the
Christ he slew,
And poison was rank in the grain that with growth of his
gospel grew.
And the blackness of darkness brightened: and red in
the heart of the flame
Shone down, as a blessing that lightened, the curse of a
new God's name.
Through centuries of burning and trembling belief as a
signal it shone,
Till man, soul-sick of dissembling, bade fear and her
frauds begone.
God Cerberus yelps from his throats triune: but his day,
which was night,
Is quenched, with its stars and the notes of its night-birds,
in silence and light.
The flames of its fires and the psalms of their psalmists
are darkened and dumb:
Strong winter has withered the palms of his angels, and
stricken them numb.