Page:Darkwater (Du Bois 1920).djvu/206

192 And endless folding and unfolding,

Rolling and unrolling of almighty wings.

The last step stood!

The last dim cry of pain

Fluttered across the stars,

And then—

Wings, wings, triumphant wings,

Lifting and lowering, waxing and waning,

Swinging and swaying, twirling and whirling,

Whispering and screaming, streaming and gleaming,

Spreading and sweeping and shading and flaming—

Wings, wings, eternal wings,

'Til the hot, red blood,

Flood fleeing flood,

Thundered through heaven and mine ears,

While all across a purple sky,

The last vast pinion.

Trembled to unfold.

I rose upon the Mountain of the Moon,

I felt the blazing glory of the Sun;

I heard the Song of Children crying, "Free!"

I saw the face of Freedom—

And I died.