VIII. Before Life and After

A time there was—as one may guess

And as, indeed, earth's testimonies tell—

before the birth of consciousness,

When all went well.

None suffered sickness, love, or loss,

None knew regret, starved hope, or heart-burnings;

None cared whatever crash or cross

Brought wrack to things.

If something ceased, no tongue bewailed,

If something winced and waned, no heart was wrung;

If brightness dimmed, and dark prevailed.

No sense was stung.

But the disease of feeling germed,

And primal rightness took the tinct of wrong:

Ere nescience shall be reaffirmed

How long, how long?