WAR-SACRIFICE
On a rock-altar sternIn sacrificial fires,A man goes up to burnHis memories and desires.Sweet savors of the earth,All innocence and ease,All pleasantness and mirth,He offers on his knees.His trembling, star-white dreams;His body’s secret fear;His life—how dear it seems,How knit with lives more dear!Last offering, and most dread—With blind arms thrust aboveHis bowed and suffering head,He burns his brother-love:Yet from that altar springs,Magnificently bright,A Love with fiery wingsTo fill the world with light.
On a rock-altar sternIn sacrificial fires,A man goes up to burnHis memories and desires.Sweet savors of the earth,All innocence and ease,All pleasantness and mirth,He offers on his knees.His trembling, star-white dreams;His body’s secret fear;His life—how dear it seems,How knit with lives more dear!Last offering, and most dread—With blind arms thrust aboveHis bowed and suffering head,He burns his brother-love:Yet from that altar springs,Magnificently bright,A Love with fiery wingsTo fill the world with light.
On a rock-altar sternIn sacrificial fires,A man goes up to burnHis memories and desires.
On a rock-altar stern
In sacrificial fires,
A man goes up to burn
His memories and desires.
Sweet savors of the earth,All innocence and ease,All pleasantness and mirth,He offers on his knees.
Sweet savors of the earth,
All innocence and ease,
All pleasantness and mirth,
He offers on his knees.
His trembling, star-white dreams;His body’s secret fear;His life—how dear it seems,How knit with lives more dear!
His trembling, star-white dreams;
His body’s secret fear;
His life—how dear it seems,
How knit with lives more dear!
Last offering, and most dread—With blind arms thrust aboveHis bowed and suffering head,He burns his brother-love:
Last offering, and most dread—
With blind arms thrust above
His bowed and suffering head,
He burns his brother-love:
Yet from that altar springs,Magnificently bright,A Love with fiery wingsTo fill the world with light.
Yet from that altar springs,
Magnificently bright,
A Love with fiery wings
To fill the world with light.