DERMOT
FREYER .
LOVE
VIRGINAL .
Lines for
Félicien
Rops' " Le Bout du
Sillon ."
THE
labour of the
fields is
hard :
Who
would
subdue
the stubborn
earth
Must
first
subdue
himself ;
from
birth
Of day
till
dark
without
reward
He must
endure .
Even
as
one
Of
his
own beasts
he
must become
Dull
-
eyed
,
dark
-
featured
,
patient
,
dumb
;
Strong
simple
servant
of
the
sun
.
For
him
the music
of
the
wood
In
May
on
heedless
ears
must fall
;
On
sightless
eyes
the
carnival
Of
summer
over
field
and
flood
.
But when
love comes
!
Ah,
when
love
comes
,
For
him
no
fetters
bid
him
stay
,
No thorns
of
thought counsel
delay
When
pulses
beat
like
battle drums
.
For
him
it
is
the cry
,
the
call
Of the
great mother
,
merciless
:
O
Love
!
untamed
arbitress
,
Full
-
blooded
,
pulsing
,
virginal
!