The Years Between Part 11

The first time that Peter denied his Lord He shrank from the cudgel, the scourge and the cord, But followed far off to see what they would do, Till the c.o.c.k crew--till the c.o.c.k crew-- After Gethsemane, till the c.o.c.k crew!

The first time that Peter denied his Lord 'Twas only a maid in the palace who heard, As he sat by the fire and warmed himself through.

Then the c.o.c.k crew! Then the c.o.c.k crew!

('Thou also art one of them.') Then the c.o.c.k crew!

The first time that Peter denied his Lord He had neither the Throne, nor the Keys nor the Sword-- A poor silly fisherman, what could he do When the c.o.c.k crew--when the c.o.c.k crew-- But weep for his wickedness when the c.o.c.k crew?

The next time that Peter denied his Lord He was Fisher of Men, as foretold by the Word, With the Crown on his brow and the Cross on his shoe, When the c.o.c.k crew--when the c.o.c.k crew-- _In Flanders and Picardy when the c.o.c.k crew_.

The next time that Peter denied his Lord 'Twas Mary the Mother in Heaven Who heard, And She grieved for the maidens and wives that they slew When the c.o.c.k crew--when the c.o.c.k crew-- _At Tirmonde and Aerschott when the c.o.c.k crew_.

The next time that Peter denied his Lord The Babe in the Manger awakened and stirred, And He stretched out His arms for the playmates He knew-- When the c.o.c.k crew--when the c.o.c.k crew-- _But the waters had covered them when the c.o.c.k crew_.

The next time that Peter denied his Lord 'Twas Earth in her agony waited his word, But he sat by the fire and naught would he do, Though the c.o.c.k crew--though the c.o.c.k crew-- _Over all Christendom, though the c.o.c.k crew_.

The last time that Peter denied his Lord, The Father took from him the Keys and the Sword, And the Mother and Babe brake his Kingdom in two, When the c.o.c.k crew--when the c.o.c.k crew-- (_Because of his wickedness_) _when the c.o.c.k crew_!

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

1911

When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride, He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.

But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man, He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it as he can.

But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.

For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws, They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.

'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say, For the Woman that G.o.d gave him isn't his to give away; But when hunter meets with husband, each confirms the other's tale-- The female of the species is more deadly than the male.

Man, a bear in most relations--worm and savage otherwise,-- Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.

Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.

Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low, To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.

Mirth obscene diverts his anger! Doubt and Pity oft perplex Him in dealing with an issue--to the scandal of The s.e.x!

But the Woman that G.o.d gave him, every fibre of her frame Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same; And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail, The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.

She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast May not deal in doubt or pity--must not swerve for fact or jest.

These be purely male diversions--not in these her honour dwells.

She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.

She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate!

And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.

She is wedded to convictions--in default of grosser ties; Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!-- He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild, Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.

Unprovoked and awful charges--even so the she-bear fights, Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons--even so the cobra bites, Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw And the victim writhes in anguish--like the Jesuit with the squaw!

So it comes that Man the coward, when he gathers to confer With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands To some G.o.d of Abstract Justice--which no woman understands.

And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that G.o.d gave him Must command but may not govern--shall enthral but not enslave him.

And _She_ knows, because She warns him and Her instincts never fail, That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.

EPITAPHS

'EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE'

_A._ 'I was a "have."' _B._ 'I was a "have-not."'

(_Together_) 'What hast thou given which I gave not?'

A SERVANT

We were together since the War began He was my servant--and the better man.

A SON

My son was killed while laughing at some jest. I would I knew What it was, and it might serve me in a time when jests are few.

AN ONLY SON

I have slain none except my Mother, She (Blessing her slayer) died of grief for me.

EX-CLERK

Pity not! The Army gave Freedom to a timid slave: In which Freedom did he find Strength of body, will, and mind: By which strength he came to prove Mirth, Companions.h.i.+p, and Love: For which Love to Death he went: In which Death he lies content.

THE WONDER