I WHEN from the terrors of Nature a people have fashion'd and worship a Spirit of Evil, Blest be the Voice of the Teacher who calls to them 'Set yourselves free!' II Noble the Saxon who hurl'd at his Idol a valorous weapon in olden England! Great and greater, and greatest of women, island heroine, Kapiolani Clomb the mountain, and flung the berries, and dared the Goddess, and freed the people Of Hawa-i-ee! III A people believing that Peele the Goddess would wallow in fiery riot and revel On Kilauea, Dance in a fountain of flame with her devils, or shake with her thunders and shatter her island, Rolling her anger Thro' blasted valley and flaring forest in blood-red cataracts down to the sea! IV Long as the lava-light Glares from the lava-lake Dazing the starlight, Long as the silvery vapor in daylight Over the mountain Floats, will the glory of Kapiolani be mingled with either on Hawa-i-ee. V What said her Priesthood? 'Woe to this island if ever a woman should handle or gather the berries of Peele! Accursed were she! And woe to this island if ever a woman should climb to the dwelling of Peele the Goddess! Accursed were she!' VI One from the Sunrise Dawn'd on His people, and slowly before him Vanish'd shadow-like Gods and Goddesses, None but the terrible Peele remaining as Kapiolani ascended her mountain, Baffled her priesthood, Broke the Taboo, Dipt to the crater, Call'd on the Power adored by the Christian, and crying 'I dare her, let Peele avenge herself'! Into the flame-billow dash'd the berries, and drove the demon from Hawa-i-ee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY FAMILIAR DREAM by PAUL VERLAINE EPITAPH: IN OBITUM M.S. XO MAIJ, 1614 by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE OLD HOKUM BUNCOMBE by ROBERT EMMET SHERWOOD THE TUTELAGE by ROBERT MOWRY BELL THE MAPLE TREE OVER THE WAY by LEVI BISHOP SIR W. TRELOAR'S DINNER FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |