I
Love is sore wounded by the dragon shame,
O maiden o' mine! its life in jets of blood
Languidly ebbs. I see the gathering flame
Aspire—expire. I see the evil flood
Of time roll even and steady over it,
Bearing our God to the accurst ravines;
Bearing our God to the abysmal pit
Whence never a God may rise. The wolfish queens
Of earth have set their fates stern and sour
Against us; we are bidden to cease—to cease!
Ha! how eternity laughs down their hour,
Dragoons their malice with its dominant peace.
We are forbidden to love—as one who tries
At noontide to forbid the sun to rise.
O maiden o' mine! its life in jets of blood
Languidly ebbs. I see the gathering flame
Aspire—expire. I see the evil flood
Of time roll even and steady over it,
Bearing our God to the accurst ravines;
Bearing our God to the abysmal pit
Whence never a God may rise. The wolfish queens
Of earth have set their fates stern and sour
Against us; we are bidden to cease—to cease!
Ha! how eternity laughs down their hour,
Dragoons their malice with its dominant peace.
We are forbidden to love—as one who tries
At noontide to forbid the sun to rise.
— 19 —
