HE PROTESTS, NOTWITHSTANDING, HIS LOVE br To be cast forth from the fair light of heaven br Into the outer darkness and there lie, br Through unrecorded years of agony, br Unseen, unheard, unpitied, unforgiven; br To be forgotten of the earth and sky, br Forgotten of the womb that once did bear, br The eyes that cheered, the voice that comforted, br The very breast where love had laid his head; br To be alone with darkness and despair, br Alone with endless death, and not to die: br All these be punishments within the hand br Of an avenging deity to deal. br To these I bow in weakness as behoves. br Yet not in anger but in love I stand br 'Gainst heaven, a new Prometheus, and appeal br From God to my own soul which ceaseless loves. br His be the wrath, the burning and the rod. br Hell shall not make me traitor to my God.