Earth's Answer

    From the darkness dread¹ and drear.

    Her light fled，

    Stony² dread！

    And her locks cover'd with grey despair.

    `Prison'd on wat'ry shore，

    Starry³ Jealousy⁴ does keep my den⁵：

    Cold and hoar，

    Weeping o'er，

    I hear the Father of the Ancient Men.

    `Selfish Father of Men！

    Cruel， jealous， selfish Fear！

    Can delight，

    Chain'd in night，

    The virgins⁶ of youth and morning bear？

    `Does spring hide its joy

    When buds and blossoms grow？

    Does the sower

    Sow by night，

    Or the ploughman in darkness plough？

    `Break this heavy chain

    That does freeze my bones around.

    Selfish！ vain！

    Eternal bane！

    That free Love with bondage⁷ bound.'