NEBULA TO MAN 
And no gay flowered growths as yet are here 
To paint the scene, and scent the atmosphere. 125 
New forms amongst the insects now are flying, 
To Nature's smiling overtures replying. 
From watery chambers may-flies upward soar, 
Joy one day in the light, and are no more. 
Insects, gauze-winged, are flitting here and there ; 130 
And some with chirrup notes envoice the air. 
(The music maybe first in Nature heard, 
Long ere the woods were waked with song of bird). 
Amid the plants the sightless millepede 
Now gropes along : for not with reckless speed 135 
Will blind life move, e'en though it may possess 
" A thousand feet " with which its way to press. 
In such-like humble forms lords of the day 
O'er Earth's green breadths does Life pursue its way. 
Throughout the world to farthest east and west, 140 
The crust, by cooling more and more compressed, 
Brings frequent interchange of land and sea, 
And to itself increased stability. 
Lava and tufF from burning crater stores 
Are now amassed on Scotia's rising shores. 145 
(And well for life if there it does not rise 
To higher forms than may and dragon flies). 
But what is given here is taken there, 
And land more north is forced to disappear. 
28 
