A BALLAD OF EUGENICS

“Our modern monogamous family represents the survival of religious, ethical, economic, and legal elements from all the intermingling streams which unite to form civilization.”—Edward Devins.

A mighty stream runs past my house,
Right through my grounds it flows;
From unseen springs it comes, and then
To unseen springs it goes.
And rich deposits in my fields
It brings from distant lands,
The welcome wealth of mingled streams
That rose from blended sands.
But oftentimes a drifting wreck
It carries to my door,
And I must hold it, I who see,
To check it evermore;
Lest some one farther down the stream
Whose face I cannot see
Might snag his craft and perish there,
And dying, censure me.
Not lightly can I turn its way
Aside from channels old,
Yet I can change the shores I own,
Thus much can be controlled.
And all that marks my lifetime's goal
Is that its onward flow
Down past my house and through my lands
May ever purer grow.