Page:Darkwater (Du Bois 1920).djvu/264

250 Dead are the living; deep-dead the dead.

Dying are earth's unborn—

The babes' wide eyes of genius and of joy,

Poems and prayers, sun-glows and earth-songs,

Great-pictured dreams,

Enmarbled phantasies,

High hymning heavens—all

In this dread night

Writhe and shriek and choke and die

This long ghost-night—

While Thou art dumb.

Have mercy!

Have mercy upon us, miserable sinners!

Stand forth, unveil Thy Face,

Pour down the light

That seethes above Thy Throne,

And blaze this devil's dance to darkness!

Hear!

Speak!

In Christ's Great Name—

I hear!

Forgive me, God!

Above the thunder I hearkened;

Beneath the silence, now,—

I hear!

(Wait, God, a little space.

It is so strange to talk with Thee—

Alone!)

This gold?

I took it.

Is it Thine?

Forgive; I did not know.