Check And Counter-Check.

1

Vent all your coward's wrath
Upon me so! -
Yes, I have crossed your path
And will not go!


2

Storm at me hate, and name
Me all that's vile,
"Lust," "filth," "disease," and "shame,"
I only smile.


3

Me brute rage can not hurt,
It only flings
In your own eyes blind dirt
That bites and stings.


4

Rave at your like such whine,
Your fellow-men,
This wrath! - great God! and mine! -
What is it then?


5

No words! no oaths! such hate
As devils smile
When raw success cries "wait!"
And "afterwhile!"


6

A woman I and ill,
A courtesan
You wearied of, would kill,
And you - a man!


7

You, you - unnamable!
A thing there's not,
Too base to burn in Hell,
Too vile to rot.

Madison Julius Cawein

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