X

Unto man’s spirit thou art closely bound By natural drift and consanguinity, But more by long companionship, the tie That holds you twain together tightly wound First in his infancy, where thou art found Like some great watchdog that doth panting lie Stretched by his infant master, his dull eye Wakeful, his sharp ear cocked at every sound. Nay, for the bond is closer, ’twas thy face Bent over him at birth; thy kindly pains Steadied his childish feet. Nor can we trace What in his blood derives not from thy veins By long transfusion unprecipitate, Alive, organically intimate.

HESEPE, 19th July