Check And Counter-Check.
By Madison Julius Cawein
1
Vent all your coward's wrath
Upon me so! -
Yes, I have crossed your path
And will not go!
2
Storm at me hate, and name
Me all that's vile,
"Lust," "filth," "disease," and "shame,"
I only smile.
3
Me brute rage can not hurt,
It only flings
In your own eyes blind dirt
That bites and stings.
4
Rave at your like such whine,
Your fellow-men,
This wrath! - great God! and mine! -
What is it then?
5
No words! no oaths! such hate
As devils smile
When raw success cries "wait!"
And "afterwhile!"
6
A woman I and ill,
A courtesan
You wearied of, would kill,
And you - a man!
7
You, you - unnamable!
A thing there's not,
Too base to burn in Hell,
Too vile to rot.