Cain and Abel

II.

OUTCAST CAIN.

No death by brother's hand to us shows dire

As this thy life, cut off from man and God –

From brother's vengeance and from father's rod -

The cloud about thee closing ever nigher,

No wrath to scourge, no love tore-inspire,

Naught felt but under foot the senseless clod,

Naught hoped but what might spring from out the sod,

Naught seen but smoke of hell's averted fire.

Thus safe in lone invisibility

Thou, wandering o'er the earth from sea to sea,

Must bear the curse of life and blinding hate;

No gush of joy, no cry of mortal pain,

No plaint of love or song of bird, dark Cain,

Makes thy dull harp of life reverberate.