Shapes of Clay

Two bodies are lying in Phoenix Park,

Grim and bloody and stiff and stark,

And a Land League man with averted eye

Crosses himself as he hurries by.

And he says to his conscience under his breath:

"I have had no hand in this deed of death!"

A Fenian, making a circuit wide

And passing them by on the other side,

Shudders and crosses himself and cries:

"Who says that I did it, he lies, he lies!"

Gingerly stepping across the gore,

Pat Satan comes after the two before,

Makes, in a solemnly comical way,

The sign of the cross and is heard to say:

"O dear, what a terrible sight to see,

For babes like them and a saint like me!"

1882.