Oracles

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 ! 158