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30
THE IMMORTAL LEAF
The dove, while perched upon the camel's hump,
Was wounded by the mother in her breast;
A faded eagle, souring on a stump
Of olive-wood, desired a king and nest.
Was wounded by the mother in her breast;
A faded eagle, souring on a stump
Of olive-wood, desired a king and nest.
To many a fierce and fretted nature, Life
Recalled the melody of cub and chick:
The little leopards' sinewy game of strife,
The goslings, coloured as a wheaten rick.
Recalled the melody of cub and chick:
The little leopards' sinewy game of strife,
The goslings, coloured as a wheaten rick.
Then Noah, taking in his hand the dove,
Called Japhet's bonny daughter from her friend,
The tall flamingo. Help me now, my Love!
For backs as old as mine are stiff to bend.
Called Japhet's bonny daughter from her friend,
The tall flamingo. Help me now, my Love!
For backs as old as mine are stiff to bend.
The wish to live and pair in native pride
Is burning in our midst. The Father willed
The dove's demand. She shall not be denied
A search for twigs, that she may plan and build.
Is burning in our midst. The Father willed
The dove's demand. She shall not be denied
A search for twigs, that she may plan and build.
31
The shutter creaked and opened. Then the bird,
Convulsive, tore away from Noah's hand
While every creature in the prison stirred
With newborn hope of liberty and land.
Convulsive, tore away from Noah's hand
While every creature in the prison stirred
With newborn hope of liberty and land.
The dove flew home. She perched, without a sign
Of exultation, on the camel's hump,
And watched a lamb (too young as yet to pine)
Distrust the faded eagle on her stump.
Of exultation, on the camel's hump,
And watched a lamb (too young as yet to pine)
Distrust the faded eagle on her stump.
A seven-days' grieving followed till again
The feathered scout leapt roughly to the air
To search for woods that whispered in her brain
Of children she had loved and guarded there.
The feathered scout leapt roughly to the air
To search for woods that whispered in her brain
Of children she had loved and guarded there.
Then was it found—the one immortal leaf!
Then was it found and gathered. In the Ark
It stung with joy the prisoners stung with grief,
And glistened in their dreams throughout the dark.
Then was it found and gathered. In the Ark
It stung with joy the prisoners stung with grief,
And glistened in their dreams throughout the dark.
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