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