fight,
  Felt the light touch him coming forth, and waited
  Childlike; but yet he was not; and in time
  I bare him, and my heart was great; for yet
  So royally was never strong man born,
  Nor queen so nobly bore as noble a thing
  As this my son was:  such a birth God sent
  And such a grace to bear it.  Then came in
  Three weaving women, and span each a thread,
  Saying This for strength and That for luck, and one
  Saying Till the brand upon the hearth burn down,
  So long shall this man see good days and live. 
  And I with gathered raiment from the bed
  Sprang, and drew forth the brand, and cast on it
  Water, and trod the flame bare-foot, and crushed
  With naked hand spark beaten out of spark
  And blew against and quenched it; for I said,
  These are the most high Fates that dwell with us,
  And we find favour a little in their sight,
  A little, and more we miss of, and much time
  Foils us; howbeit they have pitied me, O son,
  And thee most piteous, thee a tenderer thing
  Than any flower of fleshly seed alive. 
  Wherefore I kissed and hid him with my hands,
  And covered under arms and hair, and wept,
  And feared to touch him with my tears, and laughed;
  So light a thing was this man, grown so great
  Men cast their heads back, seeing against the sun
  Blaze the armed man carven on his shield, and hear
  The laughter of little bells along the brace
  Ring, as birds singing or flutes blown, and watch,
  High up, the cloven shadow of either plume
  Divide the bright light of the brass, and make
  His helmet as a windy and wintering moon
  Seen through blown cloud and plume-like drift, when ships
  Drive, and men strive with all the sea, and oars
  Break, and the beaks dip under, drinking death;
  Yet was he then but a span long, and moaned
  With inarticulate mouth inseparate words,
  And with blind lips and fingers wrung my breast
  Hard, and thrust out with foolish hands and feet,
  Murmuring; but those grey women with bound hair
  Who fright the gods frighted not him; he laughed
  Seeing them, and pushed out hands to feel and haul
  Distaff and thread, intangible; but they
  Passed, and I hid the brand, and in my heart
  Laughed likewise, having all my will of heaven. 
  But now I know not if to left or right
  The gods have drawn us hither; for again
  I dreamt, and saw the black brand burst on fire
  As a branch bursts in flower, and saw the flame
  Fade flower-wise, and Death came and with dry lips
  Blew the charred ash into my breast; and Love
  Trampled the ember and crushed it with swift feet
  This I have also at heart; that not for me,
  Not for me only or son of mine, O girls,
  The gods have wrought life, and desire of life,
  Heart’s love and heart’s division; but for all
  There shines one sun and one wind blows