The ancient orders pass. The fetters fall.
All-potent inspiration stirs dead peoples to new birth.
And over bloodied fields a new, clear call
Rings kindlier on deadened ears of earth.
Man--male--usurping--unwise overlord,
Indoctrinated, flattered, by himself betrayed
And all-betraying since with idiot word
He bade his woman bear and be afraid,
Awakes to see delusion of the past
Unmourned along with all injustice die,
Himself by woman wisdom blessed at last
And her unchallenged right the reason why.


Now for a moment I became the unwilling vortex of that mob of anxious
men and women--I who by, my own confession knew Kagig, I who had
sent Kagig a message, I who five minutes ago was on the verge of
being hanged in the greasy noose that still swung above the ladder
through the hole in the roof--I who therefore ought to be thoroughly
plastic-minded and obedient to demands.

The place had become as evil smelling as the Black Hole of Calcutta.
Everybody was sweating, and they shoved and milled murderously in
the effort to get near me and learn, each with his own ears from
my lips, just when Kagig might be expected. Ephraim, their presumptive
leader, got shuffled to the outside of the pack--the only silent
man between the four walls, watchful for new opportunity.

With my clothing nearly torn off and cars in agony from bellowed
questions, the only remedy I could think of was to yell to Fred to