A Cargo of Sins

A sojourn in the sleep, Led me to the valley deep, I passed through forest thick, And high hills and crests, Along with a saintly guide whom I never knew. I was led to the front of a cave, With a huge arched entrance, It seemed a long dark channel Connecting to the other zone. I saw men of massive size, Entering into and pouring out; They resembled chimpanzees more than the human figures. All dressless, and moved with uncovered limbs, With no sense of shame or disgrace. Then I saw descending from the steps, Men and women, all naked, With cargoes upon their backs. The loads were not of timber but of logs of men, Bundled in bundles, With no eyes, no noses and no ears; And without extremities. They were too abominable to see, Their sable shaved boneless bodies Limbered as they walked. The weights were inseparable; They dragged where they moved. The saintly guide who brought me at the spot, Whispered into my ears the secret, “They are the sinners; Pulling the loads of their willful wrongs, And the chimpanzee-men, Their attendants, employed to watch, Lest they should have a rest.”