I traced Him. Thorns had frayed His garment's hem,

Ay, and His flesh! I marked, I followed them

Down to that threshold of—the tomb?

And there Love vanished, yet I entered! Night

And Doubt mocked at the dwindling light:

Strange claw-like hands flung me their shadowy hate.

I clomb the dreadful stairways of desire

Between a thousand eyes and wings of fire

And knocked upon the second Gate.

[Pg 16]

The second Gate! When, like a warrior helmed,

In battle on battle overwhelmed,

My soul lay stabbed by all the swords of sense,

Blinded and stunned by stars and flowers and trees,

Did I not struggle to my bended knees

And wrestle with Omnipotence?

Did earth not flee before me, when the breath

Of worship smote her with strange death,

Withered her gilded garment, broke her sword,

Shattered her graven images and smote

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