THE DEATH SONG
"The island of Martinique will not, in all probability, be built up again."
Hearken, my father the lowering Sky!
Hearken, my brother the heaving Sea!
Who but thy sister calls to thee?
I, the Mountain, make end and die.
Hearken, my brother the heaving Sea!
Who but thy sister calls to thee?
I, the Mountain, make end and die.
Bridled was I and bitted sure?
Bridged with homes and with gardens chained?
God's tame beast to his uses trained?
Ye to go free, and I endure?
Bridged with homes and with gardens chained?
God's tame beast to his uses trained?
Ye to go free, and I endure?
See, my father, I cloud like thee!
See, my brother, like thee I swell!
Ye league with death, but I rule all hell,
And the Lord of heaven shall shrink from me.
See, my brother, like thee I swell!
Ye league with death, but I rule all hell,
And the Lord of heaven shall shrink from me.
Once I groaned, and the scared wind sighed,
Twice I heaved, and the sick earth turned,
Thrice I spat out my blood that burned,
Roaring with torture, aflame with pride.
Twice I heaved, and the sick earth turned,
Thrice I spat out my blood that burned,
Roaring with torture, aflame with pride.
Down below me they swarmed and stirred,
Ants in an ant-hill, row on row.
"Haste!" I cried to them, "haste and go!"
Have I not warned? but they have not heard.
Ants in an ant-hill, row on row.
"Haste!" I cried to them, "haste and go!"
Have I not warned? but they have not heard.
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