Mad

O ye who push and fight
  To hear a wanton sing⁠—
Who utter the delight
  That has the bogus ring⁠—

O men mature in years,
  In understanding young,
The membranes of whose ears
  She tickles with her tongue⁠—

O wives and daughters sweet,
  Who call it love of art
To kiss a woman’s feet
  That crush a woman’s heart⁠—

O prudent dams and sires,
  Your docile young who bring
To see how man admires
  A sinner if she sing⁠—

O husbands who impart
  To each assenting spouse
The lesson that shall start
  The buds upon your brows⁠—

All whose applauding hands
  Assist to rear the fame
That throws o’er all the lands
  The shadow of its shame⁠—

Go drag her car!⁠—the mud
  Through which its axle rolls
Is partly human blood
  And partly human souls.

Mad, mad!⁠—your senses whirl
  Like devils dancing free,
Because a strolling girl
  Can hold the note high C.

For this the avenging rod
  Of Heaven ye dare defy,
And tear the law that God
  Thundered from Sinai!