Shapes of Clay

God said: "Let there be Man," and from the clay

Adam came forth and, thoughtful, walked away.

The matrix whence his body was obtained,

An empty, man-shaped cavity, remained

All unregarded from that early time

Till in a recent storm it filled with slime.

Now Satan, envying the Master's power

To make the meat himself could but devour,

Strolled to the place and, standing by the pool,

Exerted all his will to make a fool.

A miracle!—from out that ancient hole

Rose Morehouse, lacking nothing but a soul.

"To give him that I've not the power divine,"

Said Satan, sadly, "but I'll lend him mine."

He breathed it into him, a vapor black,

And to this day has never got it back.