For a whole world! To shame maternity

For women evermore—women whose tears

Flooding the night, no hope can wipe away!

To see the wings of Death, as, Adam, thou

Hast not, endlessly beating, and to hear

The swooning ages suffer up to God!

And Oh, that birth-cry of a guiltless child

In it are sounding of our sin and woe,

With prophesy of ill beyond all years!

Yearning for beauty never to be seen—

Beatitude redeemless evermore!

"And I whose dream mourned with all motherhood

Must hear it soon! Already do soft skill,

Assuasive lulls, enticings and quick tones

Of tenderness—that will like light awake

The folded memory children shall bring

Out of the dark—move in me longingly.

[Pg 34]

Yet thou, Adam, dear fallen thought of God,

Thou, when thou too shall hear humanity

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