The Song of Man and Woman.

The Song of Man and Woman.
HERMAN SCHEFFAUER.
313.2

I

EARTH’S iron mingles with my blood,
But thine with milk is blent;
My tears are of the salt-sea flood,
But thine sweet springs unpent.
Thy pulse a fertile river rides,
But mine is urged by ocean tides.
All human, human, human,
The fire of heart we fan;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.

II

LIKE mountain winds o’er towers,
So calls my voice and rings;
An odorous breeze ‘midst flowers
Is thine that sighs and sings.
A garden-guarded plant thy form,
And mine a pine within the storm.
All human, human, human,
Through us a tremor ran;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.

III

THE eagle sweeps along my glance,
Spanning all earth and sky;
Thy tender doves of vision chance
No flight so deep, so high.
My thoughts are flames on mountain heights,
And thine are lakes of mirrored lights.
All human, human, human,
The visions that we scan;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.

IV

LIKE eager lilies drink thine ears
Love’s note and the infant’s cry;
Mine drain the thunder of the spheres
And rapt as sea-conchs lie
On shores of Life’s resounding sea
And hear one voice-Humanity!
All human, human, human,
Cursed by no primal ban;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.

V

THY cloven bosom’s hills and vale
Where Love hath set his tents,
Hold store of raptures ringed by pale
Of thine arms’ blandishments.
My breast is fort and battlefield,
But not to thee to thee a shield!
All human, human, human,
We walk in Nature’s van;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.

VI

‘THY brow bears halos from the moon,
TH Mine fire from out the sun,
Yet through Life’s morning and her noon
And night they gleam as one.
Linked stars are we in Nature’s train- Forever one, forever twain.
All human, human, human,
Fruit of the cosmic plan;
Thou art the Queen called Woman,
I am the King called Man.