Classic Poem

Far to the south, directed by God's grace,
Lot had made hasty progress from the place
For many a weary hour,
Beseeching the high Lord with eyes cast down
To mitigate the anguish of the town
And stay His dooming power.

He dared not linger to erect his tents
Or take repose, such was his soul's suspense;
Nor did he dare turn back
Where the dull rumble of the starless sky
Warned him the fatal chastisement was nigh,
And where the heavens grew black!

He heard with consternation in his soul
The gathering masses of the thunder roll;
He heard the cities cry;
He saw the avalanche of fire descend
From shaken space, ay, without any end,
And knew that all would die!

He saw above, below, and everywhere
A universal and all-blinding glare,
And bolts that burst and burn.
Of his own given salvation he knew not;
He only knew he gave the word of Lot,
And, therefore, did not turn.

Pity with terror battled in his eyes;
He palmed his ears to escape the city's cries;
He wept for the undone.
He found no solace in the calm of prayer;
He was all torture, trembling and despair,
But, resolute, went on.

Then Ilcah, while the great metropolis blazed,
Fell shuddering to her knees, disheveled, crazed,
Trembling with guilty dread,
And to his heart, to all compassion steeled,
In consternation and in tears appealed
To turn his steps instead.

" Thy God is cruel, arrogant, unjust,
If thus He strikes the innocent to dust,
Slaying, when life He gave!
Turn, oh my husband! oh mine honored Lot!
Let us return unto the wretched spot!
Lift up thy voice to save! "

And Lot in deep dejection sadly cried:
" The Lord hath willed this in His injured pride;
I, slave, must Him obey.
Pause not, nor turn, for here and everywhere
His wrath is visible and will not spare!
Arise and come away! "

Then from the spreading havoc of the flame
Rose on the startled air fair Ilcah's name!
The voice she did adore
Called out in agony " Oh, Ilcah mine!
Be merciful! Recall the love once thine;
Save me! I can no more!

" Thy Suran calls thee; hasten ere too late;
The fire hath bitten my feet, oh! do not wait!
The hot air chokes my cry!
Ilcah! oh Ilcah! all my soul doth burn!
Return, oh salvatory love! return!
Save me, or else I die! "

Then like a tigress of her young despoiled,
She looked on Lot, while he in shame recoiled,
And cried: " Thou wilt not save
Yon helpless man, oh! coward that thou art,
When impious rains from hated heaven dart
To make his fiery grave!

" I curse thee, graybeard, and thy God malign!
That voice is Suran's, he is the divine
Sweet lover of my soul!
He is my hope, my life and my delight,
My god by day, my star of love by night,
My ravishment, my goal!

" Thou weeping, loathsome craven! go thy way,
Cursed by my hate until thy carrion day!
Go to thy God revered!
I love him in the ruin and the fire!
He is my Lord Jehovah and desire!
Go, for I curse thy beard!

" Death in his loyal arms is far more sweet
Than life with thee in misery complete!
With him 'twere good to die!
Go on thy hated way, go! go! obey
Thy nauseous God of ruin and decay!
I to his arms will fly! "

And with all Sodom's beauty in her eyes,
Rosy with rage, and passion, and surprise,
Towards the great plains that burned,
Fearless of death, irradiant and grand,
In woman's love transfigured she did stand,
And in defiance turned!

Swift through the sheets of blinding fire and hail,
Hoping against all mortal hope, and pale,
Proud in her noble love,
Made by her heart's nobility thrice pure,
She hurried toward him o'er the fearful moor,
Scoffing the wrath above!

And with her arms around his panting breast,
Her refuge, her salvation and her rest,
Once more she laid her head,
While in a crown a flame, sublime, irate,
The fires of heaven her love did consecrate
And fiercer on them sped.

" Suran, oh love! fear not, our gods are strong!
This dire affliction will not linger long!
In Vul's sweet heaven release
For our poor, tortured and indignant souls
We there shall find, and, oh! delicious goals
Of everlasting peace!

" Suran, I love thee! Press me closer still!
The desolating flame itself is chill
To my love's endless flame!
Kiss me again! Blot out this world of pain!
Ay, so again, sweet Suran, so — again! "


And then the lightning came.