—Copyright by Forbes & Co., Chicago, and used by kind permission of author and publisher.

“INASMUCH....”

By Edwin Markham

Wild tempest swirled on Moscow’s castled height;

Wild sleet shot slanting down the wind of night;

Quick snarling mouths from out of the darkness sprang

To strike you in the face with tooth and fang.

Javelins of ice hung on the roofs of all;

The very stones were aching in the wall,

Where Ivan stood a watchman on his hour,