Monday, September 26, 2005

Kipling

"Late Came the God"

LATE came the God, having sent his forerunners
who were not regarded-
Late, but in wrath;
Saying: "The wrong shall be paid, the contempt be rewarded
On all that she hath."
He poisoned the blade and struck home, the full
bosom receiving
The wound and the venom in one, past cure or relieving.

He made treaty with Time to stand still that the
grief might be fresh-
Daily renewed and nightly pursued through her
soul to her flesh-
Mornings of memory, noontides of agony,
midnights unslaked for her,
Till the stones of the streets of her Hells and her Paradise
ached for her.

So she lived while her body corrupted upon her.
And she called on the Night for a sign, and a
Sign was allowed,
And she builded an Altar and served by the light
of her Vision-
Alone, without hope of regard or reward, but
uncowed,
Resolute, selfless, divine.
These things she did in Love's honour...
What is a God beside Woman? Dust and derision!

1 comment:

Stephen said...

What, no comments on this?