Dragon's Teeth

Oh! where are you going with corpse lights glowing,

Here where the ravenous were-wolf moans?

And what are you sowing —carelessly strowing—

Down In the valley of dead men's bones?

Woman in scarlet and purple and gold,

Beautiful, witch-like Delilah of old.

Bright with the phosphor of death,

Blighting the lands with her breath,

Swiftly she's strowing, swiftly she's sowing,

ln the valley of ghouls beneath,

The Dragon's Teeth.

Oh! well do we know you, and rich store we owe you,

Woman of Babylon, robed in red!

Rich store we owe you, and strange grain we'll sow you,

Bake for your hunger your own bitter bread.

Empress we've seen as the whole world's bride,

Filled to the throat with carnage and pride.

Cruel as Scylla and fair,

Slaying the strong with despair —

Fain would we show you the great crops we'll sow you.

In the valley of ghouls beneath —

Of Dragon's teeth.

Oh! never once o'er you, and never before you.

Never behind you your eyes shall look;

Princes and merchants are here that adore you,

Warning nor prayer at the last you shall brook;

Woman that's drunken with agony's wine,

Woman that's blinded with glamour and shine.

Never to front or to rear

Glancing with rueing or fear —

Doom Is before you, omnipotence o'er you,

While you sow 'mid the ghouls beneath

The Dragon's teeth.

The great crop is growing, the white skenes are glowing,

The dumb armies gather with fleet steps behind;

The fool that will know not, shall perish unknowing;

The eyes that will see not, shall ever be blind,

Woman of Babylon, call, oh call!

Cry for lackey, and lover, and thrall!

Far off they shall stand with jeers;

Never again in the years

Shall we see you going, with red hands sowing

In the valley of ghouls beneath —

The Dragon's teeth,

Fanny Parnell