| |
| HACK and Hew were the sons of God | |
| In the earlier earth than now: | |
| One at his right hand, one at his left, | |
| To obey as he taught them how. | |
| |
| And Hack was blind, and Hew was dumb, | 5 |
| But both had the wild, wild heart; | |
| And God’s calm will was their burning will, | |
| And the gist of their toil was art. | |
| |
| They made the moon and the belted stars, | |
| They set the sun to ride; | 10 |
| They loosed the girdle and veil of the sea, | |
| The wind and the purple tide. | |
| |
| Both flower and beast beneath their hands | |
| To beauty and speed outgrew,— | |
| The furious, fumbling hand of Hack, | 15 |
| And the glorying hand of Hew. | |
| |
| Then, fire and clay, they fashioned a man, | |
| And painted him rosy brown; | |
| And God himself blew hard in his eyes: | |
| “Let them burn till they smoulder down!” | 20 |
| |
| And “There!” said Hack, and “There!” thought Hew, | |
| “We ’ll rest, for our toil is done.” | |
| But “Nay,” the Master Workman said, | |
| “For your toil is just begun. | |
| |
| “And ye who served me of old as God | 25 |
| Shall serve me anew as man, | |
| Till I compass the dream that is in my heart, | |
| And perfect the vaster plan.” | |
| |
| And still the craftsman over his craft, | |
| In the vague white light of dawn, | 30 |
| With God’s calm will for his burning will, | |
| While the mounting day comes on, | |
| |
| Yearning, wind-swift, indolent, wild, | |
| Toils with those shadowy two,— | |
| The faltering, restless hand of Hack, | 35 |
| And the tireless hand of Hew. | |
| |
