p. 33EAST AND WEST p. 33 The Day has never understood the Gloaming or the Night; Though sired by one Creative Power, and nursed at Nature’s breast; The White Man ever fails to read the Dark Man’s heart aright; Though from the self-same Source they came, upon the self-same quest; So deep and wide, the Great Divide, Between the East and West. But like a shadow on a screen, mine eyes behold, above The yawning gulf, a dim forecast, of structures strong and broad; Where caste, and colour prejudice, by countless feet down trod, With old traditions crushed by Time, pave smooth the bridge of Love; And all the creed that men shall heed Is consciousness of God. p. 34THE SQUANDERER p. 34 God gave him passions, splendid as the sun, Meant for the lordliest purposes; a part Of nature’s full and fertile mother heart, From which new systems and new stars are spun. And now, behold, behold, what he has done! In Folly’s court and carnal Pleasures’ mart He flung the wealth life gave him at the start. (This, of all mortal sins, the deadliest one.) At dawn he stood, potential, opulent, With virile manhood, and emotions keen, And wonderful with God’s creative fire. At noon he stands, with Love’s large fortune spent In petty traffic, unproductive, mean— A pauper, cursed with impotent desire. p. 35COMPENSATIONS p. 35 I BLIND When first the shadows fell, like prison bars, And darkness spread before me, like a pall, I cried out for the sun, the earth, the stars, And beat the air, as madmen beat a wall, Till, impotent, and broken with despair, I turned my vision inward. Lo, a spark— A light—a torch; and all my world grew bright; For God’s dear eyes were shining through the dark. Then, bringing to me gifts of recompense, Came keener hearing, finer taste, and touch; And that oft unappreciated sense, Which finds sweet odours, and proclaims them such; And not until my mortal eyes were blind Did I perceive how kind the world, how kind. p. 36II DEAF p. 36 I can recall a time, when on mine ears There fell chaotic sounds of earthly life, Shrill cries of triumph, and hoarse shouts of strife; A medley of despairs, and
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