Rosa Decidua

6 ROSA DECIDUA Were too like heaven—and heaven’s somehow to earn, No doubt—no way that I know ! Hell’s enough If hell would only burn And silence the one devil-word of love. Ay ! death slinks off. I have a child that claims my life To keep from knowledge of her mother’s fate, To keep from heritage thereof, To shield from the world’s scoff, To watch, stamp out the seeds of madness in her. God ! that hast held me back from hate, Be merciful to me a sinner And ward me, warding her ! As it is written : Excepting Adonai build the house, they labour In vain that build it. And Again : Excepting Adonai keep the city, The watchman watcheth but in vain. God, if there be a God, be Thou my Neighbour ; And if that God have pity, have Thou pity ! For never man was smitten as I am smitten ; Nor from Time’s yesterday to Time’s to-morrow Was there a sorrow like unto this sorrow ! How many hours was Christ upon the cross ? How many days in hell ? But I have hung From the day of infinite loss Watching her degradation into dung Three years. Three years ! And now who asks me to shed tears ?