The covenant of god and animal,

The frieze of fabulous creatures winged and crowned,

And in the midst the woman and the man—

Lost long ago in fields beyond the Fall—

Keep faith in sleep-walled night and there are found

On our long journey back where we began.

Then the heraldic crest of nature lost

Shines out again until the weariless wave

Roofs with its sliding horror all that realm.

What jealousy, what rage could overwhelm

The golden lion and lamb and vault a grave

For innocence, innocence past defence or cost?