II
I saw the face of God to-day,
I heard the music of His smile,
And yet I was not far away,
And yet in Paradise the while.
I lay upon the sparkling grass,
And God’s own mouth was kissing me,
And there was nothing that did pass
But blazed with divinity.
Divine—divine—upon my eyes,
Upon mine hair—divine—divine,
The fervour of the golden skies,
The ardent gaze of God on mine.
III
Then spake I to the tree,
“Were ye your own desire
What is it ye would be?”
Answered the tree to me,
“I am my own desire,
I am what I would be.
“If you were your desire
Would you lie under me,
And see me as you see?”
“I am my own desire
While I lie under you,
And that which I would be
Desire will sing to you.”
IV
I wander—I wander—O will she wander here
Where’er my footsteps carry me I know that she is near,
A jewelled lamp within her hand and jewels in her hair;
I lost her in a vision once and seek her everywhere.
My spirit whispers she is near, I look at you and you:
Surely she has not passed me, I sleeping as she flew.
I wander—I wander, and yet she is not here,
Although my spirit whispers to me that she is near.
ZION[[3]]
She stood—a hill-ensceptred Queen,
The glory streaming from her;
While Heaven flashed her rays between,
And shed eternal summer.
The gates of morning opened wide
On sunny dome and steeple;
Noon gleamed upon the mountain-side
Thronged with a happy people;
And twilight’s drowsy, half closed eyes
Beheld that virgin splendour
Whose orbs were as her darkening skies,
And as her spirit, tender.
Girt with that strength, first-born of right,
Held fast by deeds of honour,
Her robe she wove with rays more bright
Than Heaven could rain upon her.
[3]. Written at the age of sixteen.
Where is that light—that citadel?
That robe with woof of glory?
She lost her virtue and she fell,
And only left her story.