VI
176 Words
VISO—HURTLING ‘ROUND the Sun
On the perihelion run
Through the asteroids from Jupiter to Mars,
You may chance to see a light
In the everlasting night,
An unwinking beacon, sister to the stars.
And then, if you are not
A lousy rankey-pot,
With the instincts of the back end of a horse,
You’ll stand a moment, mute,
Arm raised in full salute
To Blaster Bill—who held ‘er to ‘er course.
[1] rankey-pot—Earthlubber; from the Venusian “renqui-pth”
[2] globaar—shiftless person; Ionian term of reproach
THE BALLAD OF VENUS NELL
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Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span
Between the near and the far,
With thunderous roar the great ships soar
From Earth to the dimmest star;
But though in their lust for gold they thrust
From planet to asteroid
The Will of the Great Astronomer still
Is the Will of the cosmic void.
And from Earth’s own Sol to the ebon hole
Of the Coalsack’s gaping maw
Though Man may jet, he is subject yet
To the Universal Law.
For whoever shall plot for another’s lot,
Be he brother or foe or friend
Who seeks his gain of a fellowman’s pain
Has a price to pay in the end.
- Writer
