Page:The ascent of man by Blind, Mathilde.djvu/120

 Struggling dumb through immemorial stages,
 * Glacial æons, fiery earthquake shocks.

In fierce throbs of flame or slow upheaval,
 * Speck by tiny speck, I topped the seas,

Leaped from earth's dark womb, and in primeval
 * Forests shot up shafts of mammoth trees.

"Through a myriad forms I yearned and panted,
 * Putting forth quick shoots in endless swarms—

Giant-hoofed, sharp-tusked, or finned or planted
 * Writhing on the reef with pinioned arms.

I have climbed from reek of sanguine revels
 * In Cimmerian wood and thorny wild,

Slowly upwards to the dawnlit levels
 * Where I bore thee, oh my youngest Child!

"Oh, my heir and hope of my to-morrow,
 * I—I draw thee on through fume and fret,

Croon to thee in pain and call through sorrow,
 * Flowers and stars take for thy alphabet.