BEAUTY IN EDEN
BY ALFRED NOYES
WHEN Beauty, white
As lilies in Eden night,
Woke for the deepening heavens’ delight,
Her rosy looks
Taught laughter to the brooks,
And were the world’s first gospel-books.
And wild things came,
By loveliness made tame,
And fawned on her pure feet with eyes of flame.
Yet, though her splendor
Made the fierce earth surrender,
And drew those burning panthers to attend her;
Though in her bowers,
She ruled harmonious hours,
And rode her lions with a leash of flowers;
They did not lose
The suppleness of their thews,
Nor that fierce might, loved by the warrior Muse.
Music hath fire,
Passion and deep desire,
That now plumb hell, and now to heaven aspire.
Yet, to be strong,
Must that tumultuous throng
Never escape the reins that guide the song.
So, gloriously,
She ruled earth, sky, and sea,
Being herself the law of harmony.
Strong charioteer,
The steeds are thine to steer!
Rule our weak souls! Bring back the Golden Year.
