Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/409

 Thereat, with laughing mouth, but tear-wet eyes, Evarra cast his Gods from Paradise.

This is the story of Evarra man Maker of Gods in lands beyond the sea.

H! What avails the classic bent And what the cultured word, Against the undoctored incident That actually occurred?

And what is Art whereto we press  Through paint and prose and rhyme— When Nature in her nakedness  ''Defeats us every time? ''

It is not learning, grace nor gear, Nor easy meat and drink, But bitter pinch of pain and fear That makes creation think

When in this world's unpleasing youth Our god-like race began, The longest arm, the sharpest tooth, Gave man control of man;

Till, bruised and bitten to the bone And taught by pain and fear, He learned to deal the far-off stone, And poke the long, safe spear.