EVE 
 
Written in the Mosque of Omar. 
 
HERS was the first sufficient sacrifice 
That won us freedom, hers the generous gift 
That turned herself upon the curse adrift 
Sailless and rudderless, to pay the price 
Of permanence with pain, of love with vice, 
Like a tall ship swan-lovely, swallow-swift, 
That makes upon the breakers.  So the rift 
Sprang and the flame roared. Farewell, Paradise ! 
 
How shall a man that is a man reward 
Her priceless sacrifice, rebuke the Lord ? 
Why, there’s Convention’s corral ; ring her round ! 
Here’s shame’s barbed wire ; push out the unclean thing ! 
Here’s freedom’s falconry ; quick, clip her wing ! 
There, labour’s danger—thrust her underground ! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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