Athlete, virtuoso, br Training for happiness, br Bend arm and knee, and seek br The body's sharp distress, br For pain is pleasure's cost, br Denial is route br To speech before the millions br Or personal with the flute. br br The ape and great Achilles, br Heavy with their fate, br Batter doors down, strike br Small children at the gate, br Driven by love to this, br As knock-kneed Hegel said, br To seek with a sword their peace, br That the child may be taken away br From the hurly-burly and fed. br br Ladies and Gentlemen, said br The curious Socrates, br I have asked, What is this life br But a childermass, br As Abraham recognized, br A working with the knife br At animal, maid and stone br Until we have cut down br All but the soul alone: br Through hate we guard our love, br And its distinction's known.