Page:Prometheus Bound, and other poems.djvu/87

Rh

And it lay on my heart like a stone. . as chill.

—The sun may shine out as much as he will:

I am cold, though it happened a month ago.

From the white man's house, and the black man's hut,

I carried the little body on.

The forest's arms did round us shut,

And silence through the trees did run:

They asked no question as I went,—

They stood too high for astonishment,—

They could see God sit on his throne.

My little body, kerchiefed fast,

I bore it on through the forest. . on :

And when I felt it was tired at last,

I scooped a hole beneath the moon.

Through the forest-tops the angels far,

With a white sharp finger from every star,

Did point and mock at what was done.

Yet when it was all done aright,. .

Earth, 'twixt me and my baby, strewed,. .

All, changed to black earth,. . nothing white,. .

A dark child in the dark,—ensued

Some comfort, and my heart grew young:

I sate down smiling there and sung

The song I learnt in my maidenhood.