THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF THEFTIn fair Yosemite, that den of thievesWherein the minions of the moon divideThe travelers' purses, lo! the Devil grieves,His larger share as leader still denied.El Capitan, foreseeing thathisreignMay be disputed too, beclouds his head.The joyous Bridal Veil is torn in twainAnd the crêpe steamer dangles there instead.The Vernal Fall abates her pleasant speedAnd hesitates to take the final plunge,For rumors reach her that another greedAwaits her in the Valley of the Sponge.The Brothers envy the accord of mindAnd peace of purpose (by the good deploredAs honor among Commissioners) which bindThat confraternity of crime, the Board.The Half-Dome bows its riven face to weep,But not, as formerly, because bereft:Prophetic dreams afflict him when asleepOf losing his remaining half by theft.Ambitious knaves! has not the upper sodEnough of room for every crime that crawlsBut you must loot the Palaces of GodAnd daub your filthy names upon the walls?
In fair Yosemite, that den of thievesWherein the minions of the moon divideThe travelers' purses, lo! the Devil grieves,His larger share as leader still denied.El Capitan, foreseeing thathisreignMay be disputed too, beclouds his head.The joyous Bridal Veil is torn in twainAnd the crêpe steamer dangles there instead.The Vernal Fall abates her pleasant speedAnd hesitates to take the final plunge,For rumors reach her that another greedAwaits her in the Valley of the Sponge.The Brothers envy the accord of mindAnd peace of purpose (by the good deploredAs honor among Commissioners) which bindThat confraternity of crime, the Board.The Half-Dome bows its riven face to weep,But not, as formerly, because bereft:Prophetic dreams afflict him when asleepOf losing his remaining half by theft.Ambitious knaves! has not the upper sodEnough of room for every crime that crawlsBut you must loot the Palaces of GodAnd daub your filthy names upon the walls?