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GROWTH.
i.
A LONELY rock uprose above the sea,
The coral insects fretting at its base ;
And no man came unto its loneliness,
The very storm-birds shunned its evil case.
Only the ocean beat upon its breast,
Only the ocean gave it close embrace.
ii.
An island was upheaved towards the skies,
A central fire within its heart had burst ;
The rock became a mountain, stern and strong,
Only the desolation shewed at first
A stray bird dropped a seed that fructified,
No longer reigned the barrenness accursed.
