406

John Boyle O'Reilly

Exported from Wikisource on July 25, 2024

I do not know the meaning of the sign,

But bend before its power, as a reed bends

When the black tornado fills the valley to the lips.

Three times in twenty years its shape has come

On lines of fire on the black veil of mystery;

At first, tho' strange, it seemed familiar,

And lingered on the mind as if at rest;

The second time if flashed a thrill came, too,

For supernature spoke, or tried to speak;

The third time, like a blow upon the eyes,

It stood before me, as a page might say:

'Read, read,—and do not call for other warning'.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Table of Contents

Title page

406

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