THE BALLOON 
3 
 
As the chord and silk and paint, 
Wood and iron drifteth by. 
 
Floating in the summer sky 
Like a model of the moon :— 
How supreme to be so high 
In a treacherous balloon, 
Like the Kings of Destiny, 
All the earth for their spittoon. 
 
Toads are gnawing at my feet. 
Take them off me quick, I pray ! 
Worms my juicy liver eat. 
Take the awful beasts away ! 
Vipers make my bowels their meat. 
Fetch a cunning knife and slay ! 
 
Kill the tadpoles in my lung, 
And the woodlice in my spine, 
And the beast that gnaws my tongue, 
And the weasel at my chine, 
And the horde of adders young 
That around mine entrails twine ! 
 
Come, dissect me !  Rip the skin ! 
Tear the bleeding flesh apart ! 
See ye all my hellish grin 
While the straining vitals smart. 
Never mind !  Go in and win, 
Till you reach my gory heart !