Jubal and Tubal Cain

(Canadian)

Rudyard Kipling


JUBAL sang of the Wrath of God
    And the curse of thistle and thorn—
But Tubal got him a pointed rod,
    And scrabbled the earth for corn.
    Old—old as that early mould,
        Young as the sprouting grain—
    Yearly green is the strife between
        Jubal and Tubal Cain

Jubal sang of the new-found sea,
    And the love that its waves divide—
But Tubal hollowed a fallen tree
    And passed to the further side.
    Black—black as the hurricane-wrack,
        Salt as the under-main—
    Bitter and cold is the hate they hold—
        Jubal and Tubal Cain!

Jubal sang of the golden years
    When wars and wounds shall cease—
But Tubal fashioned the hand-flung spears
    And showed his neighbours peace.
    New—new as the Nine point Two,
        Older than Lamech’s slain—
    Roaring and loud is the feud avowed
        Twix’ Jubal and Tubal Cain!

Jubal sang of the cliffs that bar
    And the peaks that none may crown—
But Tubal clambered by jut and scar
    And there he builded a town.
    High—high as the snowsheds lie,
        Low as the culverts drain—
    Wherever they be they can never agree—
        Jubal and Tubal Cain!


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