Robert DavidsonI grew spiritually fat living off the souls of men.If I saw a soul that was strongI wounded its pride and devoured its strength.The shelters of friendship knew my cunningFor where I could steal a friend I did so.And wherever I could enlarge my powerBy undermining ambition, I did so,Thus to make smooth my own.And to triumph over other souls,Just to assert and prove my superior strength,Was with me a delight,The keen exhilaration of soul gymnastics.Devouring souls, I should have lived forever.But their undigested remains bred in me a deadly nephritis,With fear, restlessness, sinking spirits,Hatred, suspicion, vision disturbed.I collapsed at last with a shriek.Remember the acorn;It does not devour other acorns.
I grew spiritually fat living off the souls of men.If I saw a soul that was strongI wounded its pride and devoured its strength.The shelters of friendship knew my cunningFor where I could steal a friend I did so.And wherever I could enlarge my powerBy undermining ambition, I did so,Thus to make smooth my own.And to triumph over other souls,Just to assert and prove my superior strength,Was with me a delight,The keen exhilaration of soul gymnastics.Devouring souls, I should have lived forever.But their undigested remains bred in me a deadly nephritis,With fear, restlessness, sinking spirits,Hatred, suspicion, vision disturbed.I collapsed at last with a shriek.Remember the acorn;It does not devour other acorns.