BIRTH SONG

Published in the Occult Review

London, England

July 1925

(pages 12-13)

[By Victor B. Neuburg]

The bud beneath the winter’s ice,

Earth-fire beneath the snow;

The unborn Spring’s supreme device,

The virginal soft glow.

Beneath the snow the sacred Fire,

Beneath the bud the Fruit;

The all-unquenchable desire

Hid in the holy Root.

The Word set free! the secret Flame

Burning in breath and bud,

Known at the naming of the Name,

The shedding of the Blood.

The priest who guards the altar-fire

Breathes on the holy Flame,

Calling upon the arcane Sire

By the forbidden Name.

So once the Mystery was done,

And set the world aflame;

Hereby was known the sacred one,

Hereby the Guardian came.

The winter’s fire is dead; the moon

Is worshipped now; anon

The Fire shall blaze anew, and soon

The holy Rites be done!

The Fire returns; the Sun’s reborn!

Oh, joyance to the world!

Joyance! within the coming corn

The secret Spark lies curled!

The silly Moon shall flee for shame

At the coming of the Sun!

Soon, soon the mystic Fire shall flame!

Soon the old Rites be done!

Soon, soon the wiser Priest shall stand

Before the sacred Pyre,

Watching within the green-gold land

The working of the Fire.

Dawn! It is thine, and mine, and his!

Rejoice! Come forth! Be wise!

These be the olden Mysteries

Whereby shall Earth arise.