Collected Works (Vol. II)

146 THE SWORD OF SONG His achieve- ment. Plan of poem ‘* Conspuez Dieu!" Apology for manner of poem. A chance for Tibet. Hopes. Iden- tity of poet. Attention drawn to my highly decora- tive cover. Shields? Be they paper, paint, lath? They shall cover Well as they may, the big heart of a lover! Swords? Let the lightning of Truth strike the fortress Frowning of God! _ I will sever one more tress Off the White Beard ” with his son’s blood besprinkled, Carve one more gash in the forehead * hate-wrinkled :— So, using little arms, earn one day better ones ; Cutting the small chains,*4 learn soon to unfetter one’s Limbs from the large ones, walk forth and be free '— So much for Browning ! and so much for me! Pray do not ask me where I stand ! “ Who asks, doth err.”** At least demand No folly such as answer means ! ‘“* But if” (you * say) “your spirit weans Itself of milk-and-water pap, And one religion as another O’erleaps itself and falls on the other ; * You'll tell me why at least, mayhap, Our Christianity excites Especially such petty spites As these you strew throughout your verse.” The chance of birth! I choose to curse (Writing in English *) just the yoke Of faith that tortures English folk. I cannot write 7% a poem yet To please the people in Tibet ; But when I can, Christ shall not lack Peace, while their Buddha I attack.*° Yet by-and-by I hope to weave A song of Anti-Christmas Eve And First- and Second-Beast-er Day. There’s one * 3! who loves me dearly (vrai!) Who yet believes me sprung from Tophet, Either the Beast or the False Prophet; And by all sorts of monkey tricks Adds up my name to Six Six Six. Retire, good Gallup !*?_ In such strife her Superior skill makes you a cipher! * Crowley's mother. 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105