DRAGON INCURSIONS

O Freedom! whose pure soul and heart embrace

Translates me into heaven, I draw for breath

The joy of angels who have not known death.

Child-like, I look up in thy loving face,

Else gaze around and point, and curious place

My hand on Mottoes, hung on high. One saith:

“Beware, for he not with me scatterith.”

Its meaning comes to me with growth, like grace.

Ah, as a youngster, on its mother's arm,

Seeing a hideous thing approaching night,

Will not lay down its head and shut its eye,

But will with look and lung express alarm —

My mind cries out in dread — when sea and sky

Show dragons, tendencies that work thee harm.

O Freedom! Up to whose raised hand the seas

Leap, playful lions, or with head and main

Across their paws lie couchant — it is pain

To see thee whose heart beats are God's decrees,

And vital breathings are infinities,

Now check thy heart and hold thy breath to gain

The smile and plaudit of a depths with bane

In finger tips, while fawning on their knees.

What! Think the tyrant, whose great soul is trade,

Whose history, a crater, belching black

And lurid, keeps glad Easter morning back

From half the world — loves thee save to invade,

As blackward planned? loves thee, along whose track

March Human rights up to the stars parade?