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Edgar Lee Masters - The Two Souls
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Two souls within this lunar cycle passed 
Beyond the curtained stage of life and time. 
One weary from long vigils, bent with toil, 
Fell ere his task was done; and one consumed 
With glooming fire that fed upon itself 
Within the darkened chamber of a heart -- 
Blackened and hardened with its dark designs -- 
Death crumbled. And from widest points of earth 
Men grieved for each, each for a different grief, 
Each for a shattered hope, because they slept. 
Whate`er the crags and bleak declivities 
Which marred this peak, it pointed heavenward; 
So much men gained to see that glory and light 
Last faded from its head and first appeared, 
And that it made a comrade of those orbs 
Whose still and unremitting splendor gave 
The far-off truth along their level beams. 
His was a life whose opulence of deeds 
Made heirs of all mankind when gold shall lie 
In useless heaps, or breed the ills which tear 
The human heart with fraud, and violence. 
Toiling while others slept, and `mid the jeers 
Of those whose children will enjoy the meed 
Of what he did, he kept his nature`s trust. 
Thus without bitter doubts of heaven`s law 
He scorned to traffic with the ease of life 
And mouth a faith the bargain would belie. 
The other, like a spider huge and vile, 
Dug pits for men, and slavered from his tongue 
The waxen slime in which to stick their feet. 
His was the gift of cruel alchemy 
Which turned to gold the flow of tears and blood 
And by the incantation of his words 
Made worthless paper precious. His the heart 
To loosen war, until a land was stripped, 
And all the world was shaken; till amidst 
The reeling masquerade of hate and death 
This bloated thief dropped off, whom care had sapped 
Of power to pleasure in his stolen hoard. 
But he would move the world! By scattering 
His bloody spoils like seed about the earth. 
And with the proceeds of the widow`s house 
Undo the work of Washington! with gold 
Accomplish what the British soldiery 
Failed twice to do! call back the ancient days -- 
Stab Progress dead! Destroy democracy -- 
Curdle the sweetness of the youthful mind 
With King-craft, and debauch the sons of men 
Till slavery be their portion! Shall it be? 

If the final good 
Of ages and their anguished sacrifice 
May be destroyed by villany and gold 
Procured by villany. Enough of grief! 
Turn loose life`s carnival, for those who miss 
The flesh`s lust, have lost the all in all!
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