 | A Lost Epic and Other Poems |  |
III.—THE VOICES.
“And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon
the earth; . . . and the mountains were covered. And all
flesh died, . . . and every man: . . . and Noah only
remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”
The air was filled with sound of rain; the ground
With sound of water; and amid the sound
Were heard two awful Voices.
“Look!” one cried;
With sound of water; and amid the sound
Were heard two awful Voices.
“What see'st thou?”
68
“The smoke of tumbling waters; rain that smites
The waters into smoke.
The waters into smoke.
Upon the heights
Crowding and flight and tumult—beasts and men.”
Crowding and flight and tumult—beasts and men.”
“What is it thou canst see? Look forth again.”
“I see a marble temple, white and fair.
The black waves lash the steps. In mad despair
The priests are flinging to the roaring sea
Their gods of gold and silver. Now they flee;
They seek the clefts o' the rocks. They flee, they seek
Refuge from rocky cleft and rugged peak.
They howl with terror.”
The black waves lash the steps. In mad despair
The priests are flinging to the roaring sea
Their gods of gold and silver. Now they flee;
They seek the clefts o' the rocks. They flee, they seek
Refuge from rocky cleft and rugged peak.
They howl with terror.”
69
“Look yet forth again.
What see'st thou?”
What see'st thou?”
“A smoking crater; haggard men.
Each glares at each with red and wolfish eyes.
They cast their lots, for still the waters rise.”
Each glares at each with red and wolfish eyes.
They cast their lots, for still the waters rise.”
“Forbear; no more!”
“Now look. What see'st thou?”
“Lo!
A single summit, hoar with ice and snow;
No other land. The vast sea rolls beneath.
A tigress, with her cub between her teeth,
Stands on the summit panting, wild with fear.”
“Yet once again. What dost thou see or hear?”A single summit, hoar with ice and snow;
No other land. The vast sea rolls beneath.
A tigress, with her cub between her teeth,
Stands on the summit panting, wild with fear.”
70
“Drifting of giant clouds; encircling sea;
Great waves; a raft of tree made fast to tree;
Upon the raft a man.
Great waves; a raft of tree made fast to tree;
Upon the raft a man.
The man in rage
Hath gnawed his flesh his famine to assuage.”
“What doth the man?”Hath gnawed his flesh his famine to assuage.”
“He sits with covered head.”
“Is the man weeping?”
“Lord, the man is dead.”
“What see'st thou now?”
“Sky, sea; betwixt the twain,
The Ark.”
The Ark.”
71
“Doth any living thing remain?”
“Not one of all that Thou didst make of yore.”
The awful Voice responded: “Look no more!”
| A Lost Epic and Other Poems | |