Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/578

 War

(From "Beyond the Breakers")

(See page 504)

The night was on the world, and in my sleep I heard a voice that cried across the dark: "Give steel!" And gazing I beheld a red, Infernal stithy. There were Titans five Assembled, thewed and naked and malign Against the glare. One to the furnace throat, Whence issued screams, fed shapes of human use— The hammer, axe and plow. Those molten soon, Another haled the dazzling ingot forth With tongs, and gave it to the anvil. Two, With massy sledges throbbing at the task, Harried the gloom with unenduring stars And poured a clangorous music on the dark, With loud, astounding shock and counter-shock Incessant. And the fifth colossus stood The captain of that labor. From his form Spread wings more black than Hell's high-altar—ribbed As are the vampire-bat's. The night grew old, And I was then aware they shaped a sword

In that domain and interval of dream 'Twas dawn upon the headlands of the world, And I, appalled, beheld how men had reared A mountain, dark below the morning star— A peak made up of houses and of herds, Of cradles, yokes and all the handiwork