Ida Judith Johnson

STEEDS—

Giant stallions that froth and champ,

Yellow plunging racers

Leaping full at the barrier,

Leaping full at the barrier!

The thick masonry trembles, crumbles;

They surmount it—

They rush on.

While the village sleeps,

Down the night-wind

Comes the thunder of their hoofs.

O charging steeds,

Soon, satiated,

You will be led back to your stalls;

Your frenzy past,

Your tawny manes smoothly shining.

Soon you will be led back,

Fed fat on human desolation,

Fed fat and tame.