Chaos and void of worlds preadamite!
Lylacqs of clouds, Babelian towers of air!
Maelstroms of seething elements, shade-night,
Immensities of space, ignescent glare

Of shifting meteors, dire, terrific, bright!
Bewildering grandeurs of a rising prayer!
God heard your cries for formal life, and light,
Pellucid, star-sprent heavens glimmered, fair!

A world was born, vast shapes, grand seas were fused
In perfect symmetry, and naught accused
The Lord of folly, save Niagara's land,
Whose soul rebelled and mocked a gift of mud;
So smote He it with fire-glaive firm of hand,
The wound brings forth white cataracts of blood!

Chaos and void of worlds preadamite!
Lylacqs of clouds, Babelian towers of air!
Maelstroms of seething elements, shade-night,
Immensities of space, ignescent glare

Of shifting meteors, dire, terrific, bright!
Bewildering grandeurs of a rising prayer!
God heard your cries for formal life, and light,
Pellucid, star-sprent heavens glimmered, fair!

A world was born, vast shapes, grand seas were fused
In perfect symmetry, and naught accused
The Lord of folly, save Niagara's land,
Whose soul rebelled and mocked a gift of mud;
So smote He it with fire-glaive firm of hand,
The wound brings forth white cataracts of blood!