JUBAL AND TUBAL CAIN

Jubal sang of the Wrath of God

And the curse of thistle and thorn--

But Tubal got him a pointed rod,

And scrabbled the earth for corn.

Old--old as that early mould,

Young as the sprouting grain--

Yearly green is the strife between

Jubal and Tubal Cain!

Jubal sang of the new-found sea,

And the love that its waves divide--

But Tubal hollowed a fallen tree

And passed to the further side.

Black--black as the hurricane-wrack,

Salt as the under-main--

Bitter and cold is the hate they hold--

Jubal and Tubal Cain!

Jubal sang of the golden years

When wars and wounds shall cease--

But Tubal fashioned the hand-flung spears

And showèd his neighbours peace.

New--new as the Nine point Two,

Older than Lamech's slain--

Roaring and loud is the feud avowed

Twix' Jubal and Tubal Cain!

Jubal sang of the cliffs that bar

And the peaks that none may crown--

But Tubal clambered by jut and scar

And there he builded a town.

High--high as the snowsheds lie,

Low as the culverts drain--

Wherever they be they can never agree--

Jubal and Tubal Cain!