THE SWORD OF SONG 
40
Such reservations—and I class 
Myself a Christian : let us pass 
Back to the text whose thread we lost, 
And see what means this “Pentecost.” 
This, then, is what I seem occurred 
According to our Saviour’s word) 
That all the Saints at Pentecost 
Received the gift—the Holy Ghost ; 
Such gift implying, as I guess 
This very super-consciousness.59 
Miracles follow as a dower ; 
But ah ! they used that fatal power 
And lost the Spirit in the act. 
This may be fancy or a fact ; 
At least it squares with super-sense 
Or “spiritual experience.” 
You do not well to swell the list 
Of horrid things to me imputed 
By calling me “materialist.” 
At least this thought is better suited 
To Western minds than is embalmed 
Among the doctrines of Mohammed, 
The dogma parthenogenetic * 
As told me by a fat ascetic. 
He said : “Your worthy friends may lack you late, 
But learn how Mary was immaculate !” 
I sat in vague expectant bliss. 
The story as it runs is thus : 
(I quote my Eastern friend60 verbatim !) 
The Virgin, going to the bath, 
Found a young fellow in her path, 
And turned, prepared to scold and rate him ! 
“How dare you be on me encroaching ?” 
The beautiful young gentleman, 
With perfect courtesy approaching, 
Bowed deeply, and at once began : 
“Fear nothing, Mary !  All is well !  
I am the angel Gabriel.” 
She bared her right breast ; (query why ?) 
The angel Gabriel let fly 
* Concerning conception of a virgin. 
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Mystic 
mean-ing o
f 
Pente-cost. 
 
Super-con-
sciousness is  
the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poet not a 
materialist. 
Mohammed’s 
ideas. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Verbatim re- 
port of Moslem 
account of the 
Annunciation.