Jack London



                   The Gift of God


                      I

                   "Name me the gift of God!"
                   A man commanded.
                   His brow was furrowed
                   With thought.
                   He wished to know all things.


                      II

                   There was a clamor among the peoples;
                   Many strove to answer,
                   And many were silent.
                   Some did not care,
                   Yet none were too busy to listen.
                   At first,
                   They named all things,
                   In loud voices,
                   Till the weak were hushed.


                      III

                   Then the strong ones became as one:
                   "Life is the gift of God!" they cried,
                   In a mighty chant,
                   Which shook the heavens.
                   But in time,
                   They became tired,
                   And no longer outraged the sky.


                      IV

                   Then a graybeard,
                   Doddering on the edge of his grave,
                   Raised a thin voice.
                   He had seen three generations
                   Come and go;
                   He knew all tricks;
                   He said. "Death is the gift of God."
                   He knew.
                   But the people were angry,
                   And in a great clamor,
                   Drowned his thin voice.

                   June 1899


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