A PRISONER OF EARTH. 13 



thinking of her as a globe, a planet, a moving 

 thing, created by, controlled by, the Overlord 

 of all. She occupies space and moves through 

 it just as do I. Although but a parasite upon 

 her surface yet ever doth she hold me prisoner. 

 Freely she lets me walk or sail or move other- 

 wise at will; freely she permits me to tickle or 

 caress her crust, yet the moment I essay to 

 leave her by leaping upward and outward into 

 space, quickly she pulls me back. If by some 

 strategy I manage to get too far away she be- 

 comes vexed and jerks me back with such a 

 thud that my bones are broken or my flesh 

 badly bruised. Indeed no man or other animal, 

 no plant or even rock has ever been able to 

 elude her powerful grasp. 



Far out into space I often gaze and see other 

 planets like her, which I fain would visit, yet 

 ever does she, and ever will she, say me nay. 

 For of her I am a part; bone, muscle, nerve 

 all has she given, has she mothered. For years 

 she suckles me, then growing tired, of my insa- 

 tiate demands she weans me, takes back unto 

 herself the matter which is her own and in time 

 yields it to another more subservient to her will. 



Although I know that soon she will tire of 

 me, my love for her each day doth grow. Closer 

 would I get to her yet remain upon her surface. 

 Into my ears would I have her whisper her in- 

 most secrets. Her winds would I have play for 



